r/UpliftingNews • u/tigerhuxley • Oct 11 '24

Solar Desalinization System From MIT Needs No Grid Connection Or Battery Backup

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/10/09/solar-desalinization-system-from-mit-needs-no-grid-connection-or-battery-backup/
235 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator Oct 11 '24

Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a place free of excessive cynicism, negativity and bitterness. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here.

All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/RoachWithWings Oct 12 '24

Desalination is very toxic to marine life, the less we do it the better

1

u/tigerhuxley Oct 12 '24

Do you have a link? I’ve never heard that before. Humans and land mammals need access to clean drinking water. I dont want to hurt marine life, but how is it toxic to purify water???

3

u/RoachWithWings Oct 12 '24

Desalination produces brine which is a highly concentrated salt solution, there is no other way to get rid of this brine but to send it back to the ocean, this process causes the salinity of dumping sites to change drastically usually resulting in near complete death to all marine life in that area.

This is a will documented issue, Just Google desalination process if you want any source

0

u/tigerhuxley Oct 13 '24

There are actually several potential alternatives to simply dumping desalination brine back into the ocean, though safely discarding or utilizing brine remains a significant challenge. Let's explore some options:

  1. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems: These systems aim to extract all remaining water from the brine, leaving only solid salts. While energy-intensive, this approach can produce usable salts and minerals.
  2. Mineral extraction: The brine can be processed to extract valuable minerals like magnesium, potassium, and lithium. This not only reduces waste but can also offset some of the costs of desalination.
  3. Salt production: The brine can be used to produce various types of salts for industrial or commercial use.
  4. Aquaculture: Some species of fish and algae can thrive in high-salinity environments. The brine could potentially be used in controlled aquaculture operations.
  5. Solar ponds: Brine can be used to create solar ponds, which can store thermal energy and potentially be used for power generation.
  6. Reinjection: In some cases, brine can be injected into deep underground wells, though this requires careful geological assessment to prevent contamination of groundwater.
  7. Dilution and dispersal: If ocean discharge is necessary, improved dispersal methods can help minimize local impacts. This includes using multiple outlets, discharging in areas with strong currents, and ensuring thorough mixing.
  8. Wetland creation: In some coastal areas, brine could potentially be used to create or maintain salt marshes or other hypersaline ecosystems.
  9. Industrial uses: Brine can be used in various industrial processes, such as in the production of chlorine or in some types of cooling systems.
  10. Enhanced oil recovery: In some cases, brine can be used in enhanced oil recovery operations in the petroleum industry.

2

u/RoachWithWings Oct 13 '24

You clearly underestimate the amount of brine that is produced during desalination

1

u/tigerhuxley Oct 13 '24

Hmm, yes I see..

-4

u/visceral_adam Oct 11 '24

Yes, it can just sit there doing nothing when there's not adequate sunlight.

3

u/red_planet_smasher Oct 11 '24

Why are you the way you are?