Doctoral Research Pushes an Advanced Desalination Technology Closer to the Real-World

Tackling Water Scarcity and Managing Desalination Brines using Advanced Desalination Technology

As global water scarcity intensifies due to climate change and population growth, desalination has emerged as a critical solution for producing freshwater from seawater and brine streams. In her doctoral thesis, titled ” Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Desalination: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations Using Inorganic Membranes”, Nadin Al-Jariry at Luleå University of Technology explored advancing Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) — a thermal-driven desalination process — using inorganic ceramic membranes.

Unlike conventional Reverse Osmosis (RO), which is limited by high osmotic pressure and brine disposal challenges, VMD offers potential for near zero liquid discharge (ZLD) by recovering almost all water and minimizing brine waste. The research specifically aims to enhance brine management with VMD as a standalone solution or by integrating VMD as a post-treatment to handle RO concentrate, enabling mineral recovery and more sustainable water reuse in water-stressed regions.

Breakthroughs in Membrane Performance and Surface Engineering

Unexpectedly, the study revealed that certain types of asymmetric ceramic membranes that maintained remarkable stability during extended VMD operation — a notable improvement over typical polymer-based membranes. In another key outcome, a superhydrophobic membrane was successfully developed using surface grafting techniques, exhibiting potential self-cleaning behavior.

This functionalization may reduce the risk of membrane wetting and fouling, both of which are key barriers in VMD systems. However, the superhydrophobic membrane lacked mechanical durability under mechanical and thermal cycling, highlighting a trade-off between surface functionality and structural robustness.

“This limitation opens opportunities for future research into hybrid or multi-layer ceramic designs that preserve superhydrophobicity without compromising mechanical integrity,” says Nadin Al-Jariry, researcher in Chemical Technology at Luleå University of Technology.

Implications for Sustainable Desalination and Water Security

The findings of this research point to promising pathways for making VMD a viable component of next-generation desalination infrastructure, particularly in achieving ZLD targets. By improving the lifetime and resilience of ceramic membranes while introducing functional surface properties, this work offers tools for industries and municipalities to recover more freshwater, reduce saline waste, and minimize environmental impact.

In the long term, such advances could help build resilient water systems in arid and coastal communities, addressing both climate adaptation and circular water economy goals. As the water crisis deepens, technologies like these offer a bridge between scientific innovation and societal needs.