In July 2018, Richard L. Stover, a board member of the International Desalination Association (IDA) and president of Gradiant Membrane Systems, outlined five developments for higher recovery and less brine in a guest column. They were batch operation and high-pressure membranes in reverse osmosis, counter-flow reverse osmosis for brines up to 25 percent salt, humidification and dehumidification, integration with precipitation, and improved membranes. For brackish water, reported recovery rose from a typical 75 to as much as 98 percent. Desalination was practised in 150 countries.
The column showed how the focus of development was shifting at the time: away from saving energy in seawater desalination and towards recovery and brine disposal in brackish, inland and industrial applications.
Source: Water Online