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Comparative techno-economic and environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems for seawater brine treatment and valorization

2022; Elsevier BV; Volume: 53; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.seta.2022.102477

2213-1396

Argyris Panagopoulos, Vasiliki Giannika,

Wastewater Treatment and Reuse

Brine from desalination plants has become an environmental issue as the global desalination capacity is increasing. This study presents a techno-economic & environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in the Eastern Mediterranean. In particular, two cases are considered: (i) an MLD system incorporating reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO), and (ii) a ZLD system incorporating RO, FO, brine concentrator (BC) and brine crystallizer (BCr). The results indicated that the energy (6.74 kWh/m3) and cost demands (US$0.72/m3) in case 1 are lower than in case 2, with energy consumption of 10.36 kWh/m3 and cost demands of US$0.79/m3 due to two additional thermal-based technologies. MLD and ZLD systems are both comparable in cost to subsurface water sources; thus, they can be a valuable alternative to subsurface water. Furthermore, both cases are lucrative from the selling of fresh water (from US$195.33/day to US$228.4/day), while the ZLD system is even more lucrative when solid salt is also sold, increasing the profit in case 2 from US$228.4/day to US$247.44/day (8% increase). Overall, the proposed desalination brine treatment systems boost the circular economy and could have significant economic potential in the Eastern Mediterranean and elsewhere.