المملكة: "KAUST" Developing a new technology that increases the sustainability of the water desalination process
Developed by scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology ( improves the efficiency of converting seawater and highly concentrated brine solutions into fresh water.
The research provides a polymer membrane that can be scaled, operates at ambient temperature and pressure, and achieves high rates of salt removal with much lower energy requirements compared to conventional methods. This technology is currently being evaluated on a pilot scale in "KAUST"which brings it an additional step closer to practical, sustainable use on the ground.
KAUST researchers, led by Professor Nour El-Din Ghafoor, have developed an ultra-efficient membrane that produces fresh water from seawater and concentrated brine solutions with less energy consumption, in a step that supports the path of sustainable water desalination in the Kingdom. As the technology enters the pilot testing phase, these solutions are close to having an applied impact…
Water Desalination
The research presents thin hydrophobic membranes with sub-nanometre pores for membrane distillation processes, designed to allow the passage of water vapor while blocking salts and pollutants with high efficiency, while maintaining superior rates of salt rejection even when treating brine solutions that are usually difficult to handle and are expensive.
The lead author of the study, a specialist in Water desalination and treatment in Noureddine Ghafoor: "Water and energy are two inseparable challenges for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and this study shows that it is possible to desalinate not only seawater, but even highly concentrated brine solutions, using much less energy than traditional methods, and KAUST provides a distinguished environment in which basic materials science can be transformed into practical technologies that respond to real societal needs."
Expansion of industrial activities
The reliability and efficiency of water production is a long-term strategic priority for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is one of the largest producers of desalinated water in the world, and demand is expected to increase as the population grows and industrial activities expand, so technologies that improve performance and reduce energy consumption and operating costs are gaining increasing importance.
Unlike many advanced desalination concepts that remain locked in laboratories, the KAUST membrane is already being evaluated on a pilot scale on campus, with interest from partners. Industrialists are exploring paths for its widespread application and dissemination.
This study supports ongoing efforts to enhance water sustainability, energy efficiency, and applied innovation, and as experimental testing continues, the team will evaluate the scalability of the technology and its robustness under different operating conditions, guiding future applications across industrial and municipal water systems.
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