Nanofiltration as a cost-saving desalination process

The water is a basic need for life including human beings, animals, plants, and microbial life. Although almost 75% of globe is covered by water in the form of oceans, only a small percentage of water is usable by living beings due to various salt content, pathogens, and contaminants. Good-quality water is highly scarce in dry regions of the world like Gulf Cooperation Council, South Asian and African countries. It is believed that the limited water supplies of water may worsen due to the inception of climatic changes ahead. The only alternative source is desalination of seawater/saline water. The traditional desalination technology is improving due to introduction of nanotechnologies like nanofiltration. The present studies were conducted at the research farm of Ministry of Municipalities and Environment (MME), Doha Qatar for 3 years (2016-2018). RO and nanofiltration plants were procured and installed at the research farm of MME. Electricity consumption was recorded, and quality of various types of water: feed water, product water, and brine water, was regularly monitored. The results of the study indicated that nanofiltration desalination process proved as effective as the RO but consumed 29% lesser energy. Therefore, the cost of water production was lessened by 29%, thus making the desalination technology as cost-saving and feasible.