Researchers at Humboldt State University, USA are developing a portable prototype pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) seawater desalination (SWRO) system that exploits the osmotic pressure differential between brine waste from SWRO and wastewater. In turn the system deploys the PRO energy in the SWRO.
A US$ 600,000 dollar grant from the California Department of Water Resources is funding the project.
The new technology is expected to lower desalination costs. After development, the team will test the prototype at the Samoa Pulp Mill for one year.