Technology for freeze concentration in the desalination industry

• Review of processes for desalination by freeze concentration • Developments in freeze concentration methodologies in food, wastewater and desalination industries • RO-freeze desalination hybrid process

In this paper the freeze concentration process and its characteristics have been described. Even though the process offers numerous advantages including low energy usage and low temperature, the freeze desalination process is currently not being taken up in the desalination industry. The main factors affecting the use of the freezing process seem to be the capital cost and complexity of the process. The current use of the technology in various industrial sectors, including food, waste management and desalination, has also been illustrated. The food sector has developed the technology to a greater extent and there are current commercial plants and units which use the freeze concentration method. These commercially available freeze processes should be tested for desalination. From the recent work which has been assessed in this paper, one area where freeze concentration seems to have a good chance for success is in hybrid techniques where the freezing process is combined with other desalination methods. These hybrid technologies have the potential to increase total plant yield and introduce the prospect of reducing both the use of natural water supplies and waste from these systems.