DESAL’s research and expertise were featured in Arab News in an article exploring the potential of zwitterionic hydrogels to improve membrane performance and support more sustainable desalination systems in Saudi Arabia.

DESAL Research Group’s work and scientific perspective were recently featured in Arab News in the article “Hydrogels emerge as next frontier in Saudi desalination,” originally published by Arab News.

The feature highlights how emerging materials such as zwitterionic hydrogels could help address one of the most persistent operational challenges in desalination: membrane fouling. Applied as ultra-thin coatings on reverse osmosis membranes, these water-rich polymers can form a highly hydrated protective layer that helps prevent bacteria, oil, proteins, organic matter, and scale-forming species from accumulating on membrane surfaces.

In the article, Professor Noreddine Ghaffour, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at KAUST and Principal Investigator of the DESAL Research Group, explained that the most realistic role of hydrogel coatings is not to replace existing reverse osmosis membranes, but to improve their performance.

“Their most realistic role is not to replace commercial reverse osmosis membranes, but to improve them,” Professor Ghaffour told Arab News.

The article places this research within the broader context of Saudi Arabia’s water security ambitions and Vision 2030, emphasizing the importance of technologies that can enhance desalination efficiency without requiring entirely new infrastructure. For large-scale desalination systems operating under high salinity, elevated temperatures, and demanding industrial conditions, even incremental improvements in membrane performance can have significant environmental and economic impact.

Professor Ghaffour also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s potential role as a real-world validation and scale-up hub for next-generation membrane materials, particularly for applications involving high-salinity seawater, brine, produced water, refinery wastewater, and industrial wastewater reuse.

At DESAL, research on advanced membranes, fouling control, hybrid systems, artificial intelligence, and sustainable desalination strategies continues to support the development of more efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible water-treatment technologies.

This media feature reflects the growing relevance of DESAL’s research in addressing national and global water challenges, and its contribution to advancing innovation in desalination and water sustainability.

Read the original article in Arab News:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2652150/saudi-arabia