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From waste to value: exploring magnesium recovery from desalination brines as a circular economy enabler in small island states
Acevedo, Diego
van der Bruggen, Bart
van der Bruggen, Bart
Promotor / Advisor
Keyword
Resource recovery
Desalination brine valorization
Circular economy
Small island states
Desalination brine valorization
Circular economy
Small island states
Location research
Clearwater Beach, FL, USA
Date
2025-11-18
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Publisher
Elsevier
Language
en_US
ISSN
ISBN
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Abstract
Desalination is an essential part of the water security puzzle in small island states, and is evident in the Caribbean where desalination usage continues to grow. Desalination technology brings with it production of brines which are often considered a waste stream of the process. This research focuses on the possibilities of valorization of RO brines, including the selective recovery of magnesium as a strategy to reduce environmental impact and enable new value chains linked to decarbonization. The study combines modeling and process integration assessments. Magnesium can be recovered as Mg(OH)₂ and further processed to MgCl₂ suitable for industrial applications. Recovery is achieved through pH-controlled precipitation supported by membrane concentration and renewable-powered systems. The process can also be coupled to an electrochemical process to enable co-production of pure magnesium metal, caustic soda, chlorine, or hydrogen.
A case study for Aruba shows that co-locating the system with existing desalination and energy infrastructure can reduce environmental impacts while generating new economic opportunities. The modular design allows adaptation to other coastal or island contexts. This work supports the transition from linear desalination systems to circular, multi-output platforms that contribute to local sustainability and resilience.
Citation
Acevedo, D., & van der Bruggen, B. (2025). From waste to value: Exploring magnesium recovery from desalination brines as a circular economy enabler in small island states [Conference presentation]. At the 7th International Conference on Desalination Science and Technology (DESAL 2025).
Sponsorship
Journal / Book / Conference
7th International Conference on Desalination using Membrane Technology