Introduction to Desalination. Louis Theodore

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Preface

      Since the late 1960s there has been an increased awareness of a wide range of environmental issues covering all media: air, land, and water. More and more people are becoming aware of these environmental concerns and it is important that all individuals, many of whom do not possess an understanding of environmental problems or have the proper information available when involved with environmental issues, develop capabilities in this area. All professionals should have a basic understanding of the technical and scientific terms related to these issues. One of the key issues is water scarcity and the role desalination can play in improving global water security. Hopefully, this text will serve the needs of those interested in increasing their knowledge of, and help solve, the potable water problems facing society.

      The current human population on Earth is approximately eight billion, and almost certainly will increase in the future. The influence and effects of human activities on the environment have become increasingly evident at the local, state, national, and international levels, while particular issues such as potable water availability and desalination have become more pervasive and pressing. The net result is that there has been a more significant increase in both awareness and interest about this topic since the turn of this century.

The authors considered and then decided to write an introductory text on desalination that highlighted pragmatic rather than theoretical materials. It contains three parts and provides material that can be used in teaching an introductory course to those individuals interested in becoming part of this profession. As such, this book is intended to serve as a training tool for those individuals involved with, and those interested in entering this dynamic field. Although the literature is inundated with desalination texts emphasizing theory and theoretical derivations, the goal of this book is to present this subject of desalination from a strictly introductory and pragmatic perspective.

      The book is the result of two years of effort by the authors. The first rough draft was prepared during the years 2017 through 2019. The manuscript underwent significant revisions during these past two years, some of it based on the experiences gained from earlier written material.

      It should be noted that the authors cannot claim sole authorship to all of the essay material in this text. The present book has evolved from a host of sources, including notes, homework problems, and exam problems prepared by several faculty for undergraduate courses offered at Utah State University and Manhattan College, several other books by L. Theodore and R. Dupont, and a host of Theodore Tutorials published by Theodore Tutorials of East Williston, New York. Although the bulk of the material is original or taken from sources that the authors have been directly involved with, every effort has been made to acknowledge material drawn from other sources.

      As noted in the Table of Contents, this desalination book is divided into three parts:

        Part I: Introduction

        Part II: Desalination and Water Treatment Processes

        Part III: Select Related Topics

      Part I includes the following chapters: Global Water Scarcity and the Need for “New Water;” a Technical Glossary; Engineering Principles; Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of Water; Water Chemistry; Conservation Laws; Unit Operations; and Heat Transfer and Thermodynamic Principles. Part II then introduces the desalination process. Part II highlights specific processes including: Evaporation, Reverse Osmosis, Crystallization, Other Desalination Processes, New Desalination Processes, and Other Potable Water Treatment Processes. These seven chapters are generously supplemented with illustrative examples. Part III contains five chapters that are concerned with what the authors have termed, “Select Related Topics,” i.e. Water Conservation, Economic Considerations, Optimization, Ethics, and The Future of Desalination.

      The authors hope that this book will place in the hands of academic, industrial, and government personnel – including policy makers and water resource/management planners – a book that covers the fundamental principles and applications of desalination in a thorough and clear manner. The authors further hope that, on completion of the text, readers will have acquired not only a working knowledge of the principles of desalination, but also experience in their application; and, that they will find themselves approaching advanced texts, engineering and science literature, and industrial applications (even unique ones) with more confidence.