Abstract:
Desalination brine is extremely concentrated saline water; it contains various salts, nutrients, heavy metals, organic contaminants, and microbial contaminants. Conventional disposal of
desalination brine has negative impacts on natural and marine ecosystems that increase the levels of
toxicity and salinity. These issues demand the development of brine management technologies that
can lead to zero liquid discharge. Brine management can be productive by adopting economically
feasible methodologies, which enables the recovery of valuable resources like freshwater, minerals, and energy. This review focuses on the recent advances in brine management using various
membrane/thermal-based technologies and their applicability in water, mineral, and energy recoveries, considering their pros and cons. This review also exemplifies the hybrid processes for
metal recovery and zero liquid discharge that may be adopted, so far, as an appropriate futuristic
strategy. The data analyzed and outlook presented in this review could definitely contribute to the
development of economically achievable future strategies for sustainable brine management.
