In May 2019, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that a Columbia Engineering team under Ngai Yin Yip had presented a new process for hypersaline brine, temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE). A low-polarity solvent whose water solubility changes with temperature takes up water in preference to salt, with neither a membrane nor evaporation. It runs on low-grade heat below 70 °C. Test results showed salt removal of up to 98.4 per cent, water recovery above 50 per cent and brines handled at up to seven times seawater salinity.
The report reflected the search for alternatives to reverse osmosis and distillation for very salty streams such as produced water, inland desalination concentrate and landfill leachate.