Making waves: Electrified membrane processes for resource recovery from salines
Journal
Desalination
Journal Volume
638
Start Page
120509
ISSN
00119164
Date Issued
2026-11-15
Author(s)
Yang, Wenjian
Chen, Mingkai
He, Kuanchang
Kong, Xiangtong
Xie, Jiangzhou
Yang, Xiaodong
Kim, Choonsoo
Ma, Jinxing
Abstract
Beyond traditional water production, desalination is evolving into a cornerstone of resource valorization. Electrified membrane processes accelerate this shift by transforming ion transport from a passive byproduct into a programmable design variable. By coupling electrical potential with selective interfaces, these systems enable the targeted enrichment of species across a vast concentration landscape from trace strategic minerals (Li, U) to bulk nutrients (N, P). This Perspective argues that the fundamental challenge for the field has shifted: the priority is no longer bulk demineralization, but the engineering of systems capable of delivering product-relevant recovery streams from complex matrices. We examine how advances in molecularly-tailored membranes and hybrid architectures are bridging the gap between selective transport and usable product streams. Ultimately, realizing the potential of electrified membranes requires a transition toward precision separations and reactive platforms, supported by rigorous techno-economic and life-cycle frameworks that redefine saline streams as opportunities for circularity rather than waste.
Subjects
Brine
Electrified membrane
Resource recovery
Selectivity
Sustainability
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article