Mitigating electrodialysis membrane fouling in seawater desalination

Seawater electrodialysis with ion exchange membranes provides superior ion selectivity, bypassing the limitations of methods like reverse osmosis. However, fouling poses significant challenges to their efficiency and lifespan. Fouling, emerging from organic accumulation, inorganic scaling, biofouling, and more, disrupts salt rejection, escalates energy consumption, and abbreviates membrane lifespan. This review provides a holistic examination of fouling mechanisms in seawater desalination via ion exchange membranes, delineating types of fouling, their repercussions on membrane performance, and an array of mitigation strategies. These include feedwater pre-treatment, chemical cleaning, membrane surface modifications, and the exploration of emerging technologies like pulsed electrodialysis reversal. Through innovative approaches, the potential of ion exchange membranes can be fully harnessed effectively.