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.

Sustainable Antimicrobial Silver@MXene Nanofiber Membranes for Enhanced Photothermal Membrane Distillation Performance

by Khalid Alhamdan, M. Obaid, Jehad K. El-Demellawi, Najat A Amin, Ananda Rao Hari, Yongjiu Lei, Pascal E. Saikaly, Husam N. Alshareef, Noreddine Ghaffour
Year: 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c10788

Abstract

Solar-driven desalination has emerged as a sustainable and efficient solution for addressing global water scarcity, especially beneficial in remote, off-grid, and disaster-affected regions. Among emerging technologies, photothermal membrane distillation (PMD) stands out due to its effective solar-energy conversion, scalability, and simplicity. Here, we report a hybrid PMD membrane fabricated by electrospinning MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets integrated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PH) substrate. The hybrid membrane synergistically combines MXene’s exceptional photothermal conversion capabilities and the broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of AgNPs, thereby achieving enhanced permeate flux, excellent salt rejection (>99.99%), and superior resistance to biofouling. Under simulated solar irradiation (1 sun), the fabricated PMD membranes demonstrated permeate fluxes of 0.94 LMH and 3.08 LMH at ambient temperature (∼20 °C) and 30 °C, respectively, achieving a remarkable photothermal efficiency of 63.5% at ambient temperature, with a 35 g/L NaCl feed solution. When challenged with real Red Sea water (39 g/L salinity), the permeate flux showed only a marginal reduction (8.5%), underscoring excellent antifouling performance under realistic conditions. Beyond its desalination performance, the membrane demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties with a 99.8% killing effect. These findings underscore the potential of the Ag@MXene/PHNF membrane as a robust, scalable, and sustainable solution for decentralized water production, capable of producing approximately 24 L of potable water per square meter per day.

Keywords

MXene Direct solar desalination Photothermal Materials Nanofiber Electrospinning

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