Research database

MEloDIZER implements high-performance membranes and modules in strategic applications of membrane distillation (MD), henceproviding the decisive step for the success of MD. These core components are fabricated with a focus on feasible wide uptake and onsustainability, substituting harmful materials and protocols with >80% of benign solvents and relying on green chemistry principles.Both flat-sheets and innovative hollow-fibres are produced, striking the optimum between productivity and energy efficiency, as wellas minimising fouling/wetting phenomena, also by applying novel sacrificial coatings while membranes are in situ. Optimisedmodules are developed with a focus on hydrodynamics and energy recovery improvements. These activities are strongly supportedby sustained modelling tasks, conducted at different scales to (i) control the relationship between membrane properties andperformance, (ii) customise module geometry, and (iii) increase system efficiency and automation. The membranes and modules arethus rationally installed as core components of four MD prototypes spanning three orders of magnitude of productivity. Twoprototypes (2-5 m3/day, 0.5-2 m3/day) are demonstrated in industrial facilities (textile, beverage, chemical industries) to reusewastewater (70-90%), thus reducing water footprint and approaching zero waste, as well as to recovery valuable nutrients assecondary raw materials from aquaculture wastewater. Two prototypes (50-100 L/day, 10-20 L/day) are demonstrated as low-cost,ready-to-use, passive, autonomous, decentralised units, delivering drinking water from saline and challenging sources at communityand family level. All prototypes are run with 90-100% sustainable energy from waste heat and/or solar energy, with careful designsthat maximise membrane and system performance. Quantitative, robust evaluations of market entry and environmental benefits actas input data for each innovation activity in MEloDIZER and to promote exploitation.