In our today’s podcast episode, Rhea and I have welcomed Sterling Professor Menachem Elimelech from Yale University. He discussed the challenges and advancements in seawater desalination, emphasizing that significant gains lie in optimizing system design and using real-time monitoring and sensor technologies rather than focusing solely on new membrane materials. He also highlighted the potential of electro-dialysis for brackish water desalination and the importance of understanding multi-component transport in membranes.

Professor Elimelech also covered practical aspects of pretreatment and post-treatment in desalination. He noted that current pretreatment technologies are outdated and suggested that developing fouling-resistant membranes could reduce the need for extensive pretreatment, saving costs and energy. He emphasized the need to improve boron and chloride removal for agricultural use and critiqued the research culture that prioritizes flashy material advancements over practical system improvements. This conversation sheds light on future directions in desalination technology and the importance of bridging research with practical applications.