What is it about?
This study explores how valuable sulfate minerals can be recovered from mixed high-salinity brine solutions instead of treating brine only as a waste stream. The work examines the precipitation of minerals such as BaSO4, SrSO4, and CaSO4 when different brine solutions are mixed with seawater. The study uses a practical model to estimate saturation index, precipitated mineral yield, and induction time for precipitation under different operating conditions.
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Why is it important?
Desalination and oilfield operations generate large volumes of brine that can cause environmental and operational problems if discharged or reinjected without proper treatment. At the same time, these brines contain minerals that may have industrial value. Recovering minerals from brine can reduce scaling risks, lower environmental impact, and support resource recovery. This makes brine management not only a treatment challenge, but also a potential economic opportunity.
Perspectives
This work is part of a broader effort to rethink brine as a resource rather than a disposal problem. In regions such as Kuwait, where desalination and high-salinity brine streams are common, mineral recovery can support more sustainable water management, improve process efficiency, and contribute to circular-economy approaches in desalination and industrial water treatment.
Dr. Hussain Al-Sairfi
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mineral Extraction from Mixed Brine Solutions, Separations, October 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/separations12100266.
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