Brine management (saline water & wastewater effluents): Sustainable utilization and resource recovery strategy through Minimal and Zero Liquid Discharge (MLD & ZLD) desalination systems

Brine is a saline water present in the natural environment and produced by desalination and other process industries such as the oil & gas, textile, leather, food, dairy, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries. Although brine was designated to be discharged in the early stages of the brine management strategy, its environmental impacts have recently prompted the adoption of a new management approach. This change is the shift from disposal to utilization and resource recovery. Apart from being a source of freshwater, brine can also be a source of salts, minerals, metals, chemicals, bioactive compounds, and even energy (known as 'osmotic power', 'salinity gradient power' or 'blue energy'). Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems can be employed for the treatment and recovery of valuable resources. This review article is the first to investigate and evaluate the potential of recovering all of the resources present in brine through its treatment and utilization in MLD/ZLD systems. Overall, the challenges, research gaps, and future prospects are identified through this analysis, with the ultimate goals of decarbonized and sustainable brine management.