Techno-economic analysis of multichannel thermodiffusion:

A new study published on npj Clean Water presents the first techno-economic analysis of multichannel thermodiffusion, a membrane-free, low-energy method for desalination and brine concentration. The research shows that this technology can outperform traditional evaporation ponds for hypersaline brine treatment, especially when powered by low-grade waste heat that would otherwise be wasted.

By modelling scenarios where the yield is near-saturation seawater brine, the study found that utilising low-grade waste heat enables the technology to become more cost-effective above 95 ppt than evaporation ponds, while grid-powered systems become competitive around 200 ppt. Moderate-pressure operation (about 15 bar) also reduces costs. Beyond cost savings, the process also enables resource recovery (e.g., lithium, potash) and supports sustainable brine management for zero-liquid discharge (ZLD). This work positions thermodiffusion as a scalable and environmentally friendly alternative for managing and valorising high-salinity brines.