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Desalination

Humans cannot drink saline water. But, saline water can be made into freshwater, which everyone needs everyday. The process is called desalination, and it is being used more and more around the world to provide people with needed freshwater.

Desalination/Distillation is one of mankind's earliest forms of water treatment, and it is still a popular treatment solution throughout the world today. In ancient times, many civilizations used this process on their ships to convert sea water into drinking water. Today, desalination plants are used to convert sea water to drinking water on ships and in many arid regions of the world, and to treat water in other areas that is fouled by natural and unnatural contaminants. Distillation is perhaps the one water treatment technology that most completely reduces the widest range of drinking water contaminants.

In nature, this basic process is responsible for the hydrologic cycle. The sun causes water to evaporate from surface sources such as lakes, oceans, and streams. The water vapor eventually comes in contact with cooler air, where it re-condenses to form dew or rain. This process can be imitated artificially, and more rapidly than in nature, using alternative sources of heating and cooling.

The above diagram and information is courtesy of Desware: The Encylopedia of Desalination and Water Resources.

Reference

	Desalination in Libya by S. A. Kershman, General Electricity Company of Libya.
	Desalination in Morocco by Alami Amina and Abdelaziz Boughriba (ONEP-Morocco).
	Desalination in Tunisia by Prof. Mahmoud Dhahbi (INRST)
	New Trends of Desalination in Spain by José Antonio Medina San Juan (President of AEDYR).
	Sea Water Desalination Projects in Algeria by Eng. Badis Derradji from the Algerian Energy Company.
	The Desalination Commission in Syria Desalination of sea and brackish water has become a necessity in many arid and semi-arid regions in Syria. Natural fresh water resources in Syria are being depleted rapidly as a result of population growth and socio-economical development. It is apparent that water demand in Syria will grow more rapidly within the next twenty years: forecasts expect that the Syrian population will increase from 18 million in 2001 to more than 28 million in 2020. This increasing demand for water puts enormous strain on the underground aquifer, which results in lowering water levels and increasing salt concentration.
	The project of "WATER DESALINATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE ARAB WORLD" The Water Desalination and Purification Technologies in the Arab world Project is a research program designed to prepare a road map for Arab countries in the field of water desalination and purification technologies. The project will be implemented through collaboration of specialists from the various Arab countries and Arab experts living abroad.
	The project of "WATER DESALINATION BY SOLAR ENERGY" The project is an ideal opportunity for collaborative research since participation is only determined by scientific specialization. In addition, it provides numerous research areas, whether in water, renewable energy, materials science or any other sciences related to the project. The long duration of the project and the possibility of practical application provide a great opportunity to conduct extensive and profound research, which means the participation of a group of scientists or a number of scientific organizations in one or more collaborative research projects. Initiating, managing and implementing a collaborative research project for water desalination by solar energy. Objectives of the Project: Preparing a comprehensive study on the current state and the future of using solar energy in water desalination at the global level. Drafting a road map for the Arab world towards using solar energy in water desalination. Identifying standard specifications for a renewable-energy powered water desalination plant in the Arab region. Executing, operating and evaluating an Arab experimental water desalination plant powered by solar energy and capable of expansion into economically viable project. Achieving and reinforcing scientific research cooperation as a step towards achieving the desired scientific integration.
	Water desalination for agricultural applications Proceedings of the FAO Expert Consultation on Water Desalination for Agricultural Applications, 26-27 April 2004, Rome - FAO Land and Water Discussion Paper 5. Water desalination is the main source of potable water in some countries and in many islands around the world and it is also being used in certain countries to irrigate high-value crops. However, it has proven much less economic for agricultural application than the reuse of treated wastewater, even where the capital costs of the desalination plants are subsidized. This discussion paper contains an introductory paper on water desalination, some keynote papers of the experts participating in the consultation, the summary report of the expert consultation and a technical summary with the conclusions and recommendations of the main topics discussed at the meeting.

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