The iMERMAID partners published a new publication of the review paper in the journal Desalination, titled “Routes for reuse of aged pressure-driven membranes: Current status and future perspectives.”
As the global demand for fresh water grows, the rapid expansion of Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination currently generates millions of end-of-life membrane elements annually. Historically, most of these polymers have ended up in landfills. This new research, led by a multinational team of iMERMAID partners, provides a comprehensive roadmap for transforming this waste into a resource.
The study highlights that chlorine-based oxidation (specifically NaClO) is currently the most viable industrial option, capable of converting discarded RO modules into functional ultrafiltration or nanofiltration membranes for approximately US$ 8 per element. Furthermore, the authors introduce a novel “processual hierarchy” that prioritizes direct reuse and staged conversion (RO → NF → UF) to ensure circular water management. You can read the full paper at this link.
The iMERMAID consortium extends its deepest gratitude to the authors and partners—Fábio Ivan Seibel, Vandré Barbosa Brião, Samarah Graciola, Maxime Pontié, Ahmed Hannachi, Mehri Shabani, Eby Mohamedou Alyoun, and M Hasan Shaheed—for their dedication to advancing sustainable water solutions.
