Desalination Technology

Desalination is the removal of dissolved salts and minerals from saline or brackish water to make it fit for human use.

Desalination Technology

Desalination Technology Latest News

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an indigenous high-pressure nanoporous multilayered polymeric membrane for seawater desalination.

Purpose and Strategic Importance

  • The project was executed by Defence Materials Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur, under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
  • The membrane was designed to meet the operational needs of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), particularly to withstand chloride ion-induced instability in saline water.
  • The technology is intended for use in Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) of the Coast Guard, providing self-reliant onboard freshwater capability.

About Desalination Technology

  • Desalination is the removal of dissolved salts and minerals from saline or brackish water to make it fit for human use.
  • Two primary technologies used globally:
    • Reverse Osmosis (RO) – pressure-driven membrane-based filtration.
    • Thermal Desalination – evaporation-condensation method using heat.
  • desalination plant converts seawater into freshwater by removing salts to meet drinking or industrial quality standards.

Working of Reverse Osmosis (RO) Desalination

  • Osmosis refers to the natural movement of water from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.
  • In reverse osmosisexternal pressure is applied to push water from a high-solute (saline) side to a low-solute (freshwater) side, against the natural osmotic gradient.
  • Microscopic pores in the RO membrane allow water molecules to pass while blocking salts and other impurities.
  • Seawater typically has a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of ~35,000 ppm, while RO brings it down to 200–500 ppm, making it potable.

Desalination Technology FAQs

Q1: What is desalination?
Ans: Desalination is the process of removing salts and minerals from seawater or brackish water to produce freshwater for drinking or agriculture.

Q2: What are the main desalination methods?
Ans: Common methods include Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-Stage Flash (MSF), and Electrodialysis. RO is the most widely used.

Source: PIB

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