7. Conclusions and outlook

DM is a thermally-powered membrane-based system that has become one of the most attractive sustainable technology processes, helping to reduce overall water and energy stress in water separation and treatment applications. In addition, the integration of low-cost, renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal and waste heat can make this technology cost-effective and energy-efficient in a more sustainable way.

The DM has several advantages, including less clogging, high treatment capacity for high-salt water, with high recoveries generated by the zero liquid discharge approach. This technology is likely to be enhanced by advances in membrane materials, digitization and automation, modular design and portability, and increased market adoption. Despite DM's many advantages, it remains difficult to apply on an industrial scale due to low water production flow,...