Qatar University (QU) and the Global Water Sustainability Center (GWSC) are to jointly develop a new desalination process based on membrane distillation.
A research agreement between QU and ConocoPhillips (COP), which operates GWSC, was signed on 25 October 2011. It is entitled Evaluation of Membrane Distillation to Augment Water Production from Thermal Desalination Brines by Leveraging Low Grade Waste Heat.
The project, which will be funded by COP, will also involve collaboration with Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) with Kahramaa providing advisory and technical support. QEWC will provide access to its facilities, while Kahramaa will advise on the introduction of new water desalination technologies in Qatar.
The QU research team will be led by the head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Prof Farid Benyahia, and will include associate professor in chemical engineering Dr Majeda Khraisheh as co-investigator. The COP investigating team will be led by GWSC director Dr Samer Adham.