Membrane Distillation Desalination: An Emerging Technology

Emerged in 1960s, membrane distillation is an alternative technology for water desalination attracting more attention since 1980s. MD process involves the evaporation of a hot feed, typically below boiling point of brine at standard conditions, by creating a water vapor pressure difference across the thickness of a porous, hydrophobic membrane. There are four configurations of membrane distillation including air gap membrane distillation (AGMD), direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD), sweep gas membrane distillation (SGMD), and vacuum membrane distillation (VMD). Main advantages of MD over commercially available technologies and specially RO are reduction of membrane and module stress due to absence of trans-membrane pressure, less impact of contaminant fouling on distillate due to transfer of only water vapor, utilization of low grade or waste heat from oil and gas industries to heat up the feed up to required temperature difference across the membrane, superior water quality, and relatively lower capital and operating cost.