Can emerging membrane-based desalination technologies replace reverse osmosis?

Growing uncertainty in the future availability of freshwater sources has led to an increase installations for desalination seawater. Reverse osmosis (RO), currently most widely adopted technique, caused environmental concerns over high associated greenhouse gas emissions and generation large amounts chemicals-containing brine. Significant consumption electricity RO is additional challenge, particularly remote locations. In this review, forward (FO), membrane distillation (MD) capacitive deionisation (CDI) are assessed as potential substitute technologies major recent advancements each field discussed. These emerging offer significant advantages RO, such higher salt rejection (CDI, MD), recovery water (MD), fewer pre-treatment stages (MD, FO) ability use low-grade energy FO). their current state, stand-alone cannot compete with until certain challenges addressed, including pore-wetting CDI, Hybrid systems that combine may be useful feed waters treated by alone benefits able offset capital costs. other aspects, operational stability should considered larger-scale, long-term studies.