DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64539/sjer.v1i4.2025.313Keywords:
Forward Osmosis, Membrane Distillation, Brine Treatment, Hybrid Desalination, Renewable Energy, Zero Liquid DischargeAbstract
Brine discharge from seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plants poses critical environ-mental and operational challenges, particularly in regions reliant on large-scale desalination. This study proposes a hybrid brine treatment system integrating Forward Osmosis (FO) and Membrane Distillation (MD) to enhance water recovery and minimize ecological impact. The FO stage utilizes a concentrated magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) draw solution to extract water from high-salinity brine without the need for hydraulic pressure, while the MD stage regenerates the draw solution using low-grade solar thermal energy, simultaneously producing high-purity distillate. Mass and energy balance calculations were per-formed to evaluate recovery rates, specific energy consumption, and thermal input requirements. The results indicate that the FO–MD configuration can achieve recovery rates exceeding 80% with significantly reduced brine discharge, while maintaining low energy demand compared to conventional methods. The integration of solar energy further enhances system sustainability, making it suitable for deployment in off-grid or arid regions. This hybrid approach demonstrates strong potential for advancing sustainable desalination practices, aligning with circular water strategies and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) objectives.
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