Critical Review of Desalination Concentrate Management, Treatment and Beneficial Use

Desalination of seawater, brackish water, and reclaimed water is increasingly utilized worldwide to augment and diversify fresh water sources. The lack of economically and ecologically feasible concentrate management options, however, is a major barrier to widespread implementation of desalination, in particular at inland sites. This paper critically reviews strategies and technologies for concentrate management, including disposal, treatment, and beneficial use. Development of energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally benign concentrate management systems is critical if desalination is to become a major part of a sustainable water future. This paper examines the limitations and advantages of a range of concentrate management tools, including emerging and novel technologies for minimization of concentrate volume, enhancement of water recovery, removal of organic contaminants, and recovery of valuable products and energy.