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Objectives

The main objective of the ZELDA project is to demonstrate and disseminate the technical and economical feasibility of decreasing the overall environmental impact of desalination systems by adopting brine management strategies based on the use of electrodialysis metathesis (EDM) and valuable compound recovery processes with the final aim of reaching a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) process. The specific objectives of the project are:

  • To demonstrate the feasibility and promote the implementation of EDM as a technology for decrease the brine production and discharge in brackish water and seawater desalination systems to be in line with the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/CE)
  • To demonstrate the feasibility and promote the implementation of the recovery of valuable compounds from desalination brines.
  • To disseminate the obtained results and transfer the knowledge acquired regarding the EDM technology and the recovery of valuable compounds from brines in desalination systems.
  • To design, construct and implement an EDM pilot plant for treating real brine from full-scale brackish water and seawater desalination plants.
  • To quantify and disseminate the environmental benefits and the economical impact of the new brine treatment by EDM in the overall desalination processes.
  • To evaluate possible valuable compound recovery strategies based in conventional dissolved salts separation processes in brines. 
  • To design, construct and couple conventional separation processes into the EDM pilot plant for recovering valuable compounds from brines.
  • To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technology for achieving ZLD in existing desalination systems.
  •  To quantify and disseminate the environmental benefits and the economical impact ZLD in desalination systems.
  • To promote the implementation of environmental policies and strategies for quantifying and minimising the environmental impact of desalination systems.