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

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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28 January, 2026

DESAL and ACWA Power advance AI-based research for early membrane fouling detection

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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.

Probing the potential of surface-engineered titanium filler membranes for produced water treatment

by Nadia Hartini Suhaimi, Norwahyu Jusoh, Nur Asyraf Md Akhir, Boon Kar Yap, Muhammad Saqib Nawaz, Noreddine Ghaffour
Year: 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsamd.2025.100922

Abstract

The treatment and reuse of produced water, which emerges with crude oil during extraction in oil and gas operations, reduces dependency on freshwater. The treated produced water can subsequently be used in water flooding activity for enhanced oil recovery, extending the life of the oilfield. Thin-film composite (TFC) membranes, in conjunction with forward osmosis (FO) technology, provide a promising approach for treating the produced water, offering both cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. In this study, MIL-125(Ti)-NH2 is used during an interfacial polymerization reaction, for fabricating titanium-based thin film nanocomposite (TFN) FO membrane. The effects of surface engineering, such as pore-forming agent addition, interfacial polymerization reaction, and filler inclusion, on the features of fabricated membranes, such as wettability, morphology, and surface roughness, were examined. The results show a significant reduction in contact angles (up to 33%) and an increase in surface roughness (by approximately 31%) after the monomer polymerization reaction, indicating that the formation of a selective layer resulted in higher hydrophilicity of the TFC/TFN membranes as well as good compatibility between polymer and fillers. Furthermore, the addition of titanium-based fillers improved FO membrane water flux by 240% and lowered the specific reverse salt flux due to the non-covalent bond among water molecules and -NH2 group. Thus, this study provides the framework for future research by revealing the potential of titanium-based TFN membranes in treating oilfield produced water and reusing in water flooding activity for enhanced oil recovery applications.

Keywords

Forward osmosis Thin film composite membrane MIL-125-NH2 Produced water recovery

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