Desalination: The Chemistry of Turning Saltwater Into Fresh

Desalination removes dissolved salts and minerals from seawater to make it drinkable.
Reverse osmosis pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane, leaving salt behind.
Distillation heats seawater into vapor, then condenses it into fresh water.
Salt ions like sodium and chloride are separated using chemical and physical processes.
Pre-treatment chemicals prevent membranes and pipes from clogging with scale or microbes.
Energy is the biggest cost in desalination, often driving research for more efficient methods.
Brine, the salty waste left behind, poses environmental challenges if dumped untreated.
Advances in nanomaterials and membranes are making desalination faster and cheaper.
Some plants combine desalination with renewable energy like solar or wind.
Chemistry makes it possible for arid regions to tap the ocean as a freshwater source.