Techno-economic analysis (TEA) of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems for treatment and utilization of brine via resource recovery

The issue pertaining to brine disposal has generated considerable interest in advanced methodologies aimed at harnessing their potential for resource recovery (i.e., water and salts). This techno-economic analysis investigates the technical and economic outlooks of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems, employing two distinct crystallization approaches: membrane -promoted crystallization (MPC) in case 1, and wind -aided intensified evaporation (WAIV) in case 2. The findings indicate that case 1 exhibits a higher drinking water recovery rate (96 %) compared to case 2 (84 %), as the crystallization technology adopted in case 2 (WAIV) does not facilitate freshwater recovery. In both systems, the water is extracted via the implementation of efficient technologies, leading to the attainment of ZLD conditions along with minimal brine volumes. In terms of energy and cost requirements, case 1 necessitates a greater total energy demand (19 kWh/m3) and cost (US$95/day) in contrast to case 2 (15 kWh/m3 & US$83/day). Both cases demonstrate feasibility, yielding profits varying from US $179.19/day to US$221.32/day, contingent upon the sale of solely water or both water and solid salt. The insights provided by this study are poised to facilitate viable utilization and management of brine originating from the seawater desalination industry as well as from diverse brine -generating sectors.