InfoSearched
Published -
- April 9, 2020
- 4:27 pm
Fresh Water
This video shows how to distill water using simple and easy to find items. If you were to actually purchase all the items needed this project would only cost $2-5.
What are the two techniques used in desalination to produce freshwater from saltwater?
As the world population continues to increase, access to fresh water has become a significant challenge. Nearly 844 million people globally do not have access to clean drinking water, and this number is only set to increase. One viable solution to solve this problem is to turn saltwater into freshwater. In this article, we will discuss a few methods that can be used to turn saltwater into freshwater.
1. Desalination
The most common method to produce freshwater from saltwater is desalination. Desalination includes two techniques: reverse osmosis and thermal distillation. Reverse osmosis applies pressure to force saltwater through a semi-permeable membrane, which only allows water molecules to pass through, leaving the salt behind. On the other hand, thermal distillation uses heat to evaporate freshwater, leaving salt and other impurities behind.
2. Solar stills
Solar stills are an affordable and straightforward way to produce freshwater from saltwater. These stills can be used in remote areas without electricity. The still works by using the sun’s energy to evaporate saltwater, condensing the freshwater steam upon contact with a cool surface like glass or plastic. The condensed freshwater drips out of the still and can be collected in a container.
3. Ion exchange
Another way to transform saltwater to freshwater is through ion exchange. Ion exchange works through resin beads that help remove salt ions from seawater. When saltwater is forced through a column of charged resin beads, the resin attracts the salt ions, and freshwater flows through the column.
4. Freezing
Freezing is another innovative method that relies on the fact that saltwater has a lower melting point than freshwater. When saltwater freezes, the freshwater separates from the salt and creates ice. The ice can then be melted, and freshwater can be separated from the salt.
In conclusion, turning saltwater into freshwater is essential in areas where freshwater is not readily available. The methods discussed above are just a few techniques that can be used to make it happen. We must continue to invest in finding new and innovative ways to access and produce freshwater to help sustain our population, and ultimately, our planet.
