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.

Recovering and reuse of textile dyes from dyebath effluent using surfactant driven forward osmosis to achieve zero hazardous chemical discharge

by Maria Yasmeen, Muhammad Zafar Khan
Year: 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119524

Abstract

This experimental study explores the feasibility of the reuse of dyes recovered from denim and polyester dyebath effluents using forward osmosis (FO) system to achieve zero hazardous material discharge. In batch experiments, the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at 0.5 M concentration generated an average flux of 3.5 L/m2/h (LMH) and reverse salt flux (RSF) of only 0.012 g/m2/h (GMH), while maintaining 100% dye rejection. This flux stability comes from the property of surfactants to form micelles and exert a stable osmotic pressure (π) above their critical micelle concentration (CMC). The low RSF is due to the greater micelle size. A colored fouling layer was formed on the membrane active layer (AL), which was easily removed using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and citric acid. According to Fourier transform infrared spectra and atomic forces microscopy images of the AL, the interaction between foulants and membrane active groups did not significantly affect the physiochemical properties of the membrane. In the semi-continuous experiment, a very stable average flux of 7.3 LMH and RSF of 0.03 GMH was obtained using 0.75 M SDS as draw solution. The stacked 1D proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (1HNMR) spectra of both original and recovered disperse dyes showed 100% similarity, which validates the concept that the recovered dyes maintained their integrity during reconcentration and can be reused in the next batch dyeing process. Importantly, the diluted SDS concentration can be directly reused within the same textile industry in scouring and finishing processes. The processes of dye recovery and reuse developed in this study do not produce any waste or hazardous by-products and are suitable for scale-up and onsite industrial applications.

Keywords

Textile dye recovery Forward osmosis Minimum liquid discharge Zero hazardous discharge Surfactant draw solution

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