DESAL RESEARCH GROUP

Sustainable technologies for a water-secure future

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KEY VALUES

Committed to excellence

We aim to be at the forefront of global efforts to contribute to a water-secure future. We envision a world where sustainable desalination technologies and water treatment solutions are pivotal in providing clean and safe water to communities and fostering economic growth. Through continuous innovation and collaboration, we aspire to set new standards for excellence in the field, leaving a long-lasting effect on the well-being of societies and the health of our planet.

About
DESAL team at the lab
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

Driven by innovation, recognized by impact

The DESAL Research Group pioneers advancements in desalination and wastewater treatment, prioritizing excellence, innovation, and sustainability. Our focus on cutting-edge research and efficiency aims to address global water challenges and support sustainable development goals.

NEWS & UPDATES 

Discover the latest breakthroughs from our team

27 March, 2026

DESAL spotlighted in Filtration + Separation for breakthrough in low‑energy desalination

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15 February, 2026

DESAL summer intern Imran Alturkistani wins national awards at Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair

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02 February, 2026

New DESAL research published in Nature Communications advances energy-efficient desalination

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ADVANCING SCIENCE

Scientific Contributions

Through research papers, patents, and PhD dissertations, we push the boundaries of knowledge, driving innovation in desalination and water treatment.

Engineering edge-rich, highly dispersed, and stable MoS₂ sites for the catalytic splitting of H₂S for H₂ production
Year: 2026 DOI:https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8597696/v1
Authors: Pedro Castaño, Hend Omar Mohamed, Vijay K.Velisoju, Mohammed Obaid, Rafia Ahmed, Yuma Hirayama, Mohamed Hassine, Gontzal Lezcano, Ildar Mukhambetov, Zainab Alaithan, Muhammad Shafarifky, Ali Almofleh, Polina Tolstova, Omar El Tall, Takato Mitsudome, Huabin Zhang, Luigi Cavallo, Noreddine Ghaffour, Hassan Aljama
  • MoS2
  • H2S decomposition
  • electrospinning
  • Water resources
  • Hidrogen
  • Nanofiber
Engineering high environmental robustness in solar evaporation to bridge the lab-to-field performance gap
Year: 2026 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71004-y
Authors: Chang-ting Wang, Canjie Lin, Kai Xu, Yang Liu, Zhongtao Lao, Jianping Cao, Bei Liu,, Amal Baqais, Khaled Bin Bandar, Saud Aldrees, Mohammed A. Alhussaini, Shao-Yuan Leu, Noreddine Ghaffour, Qiaoqiang Gan, Wenbin Wang, Peng Wang
  • Solar thermal energy
  • Water resources
Balancing biofouling control in membrane distillation by “shock” chlorination
Year: 2026 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-026-00578-3
Authors: Daniel Dylewsk, Alla Alpatova, Graciela Gonzalez-Gil, Najat A Amin, Valentina-Elena Musteata, Stephen Ogg, Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder, Noreddine Ghaffour
  • Membrane distillation (MD)
  • Biofouling Control
  • Shock Chlorination
  • Seawater Desalination
  • Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD)
Advanced assessment of membrane fouling in seawater reverse osmosis plants using permeate quality degradation indicators
Year: 2026 DOI:https://doi.org/10.12912/27197050/219506
Authors: Fatma Alaoui, Amel Alioua Berrebah, Noreddine Ghaffour, Djillali Benouali, Fatma Belhoucine, Yamina Merzouk
  • conductivity
  • Membrane fouling
  • Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Membranes
  • permeate quality
  • salt rejection
  • cleaning-in-place
  • fouling diagnostics

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