Membrane Crystallization

Membrane crystallization is an innovative process, alternative with respect to conventional crystallizers. Due to its specific operational principles, based on the use of diffusive transport through polymeric membranes as the means to generate supersaturation and to induce heterogeneous nucleation phenomenon, a membrane crystallizer has the potential to produce a narrow CSD. When integrated in membrane desalination systems, membrane crystallization can play--in perspective--a crucial role as a mineral recovery process in the logic of process intensification, coherently with a strategy of zero liquid discharge and circular economy. Although tested so far on sodium chloride, sodium/magnesium sulfate, and calcium carbonate/sulfate, this technology could effectively recover critical minerals present in seawater desalination brines, such as barium, strontium, and lithium.