Desalination Patents

Desalination patents cover reverse osmosis RO and nanofiltration NF membrane innovations; energy recovery device ERD innovations for SWRO seawater reverse osmosis; forward osmosis FO innovations for low-energy water treatment; electrodialysis and electrodeionization innovations; thermal desalination MED and MSF innovations; and brine management and ZLD zero liquid discharge innovations — with IP held by membrane manufacturers, energy recovery device companies, EPC contractors, and water technology startups: MAJOR DESALINATION PATENT HOLDERS: DOW/DUPONT FILMTEC: 2,000+; specific SWRO membranes (specific specific SW30 SWRO element: specific specific 99.7% NaCl rejection from specific specific thin film composite TFC from specific specific polyamide active layer 0.12 μm from specific specific crosslinked aromatic 4-aminobenzoic acid+MPD+TMC from specific specific polysulfone support 40 μm at specific specific 15.5 Lmh flux at specific specific 55 bar applied pressure from specific specific 32,000 ppm NaCl seawater at specific specific 25°C from specific specific 8-inch element 40-36 m² area for specific specific SWRO plant Sorek Israel 624,000 m³/day at specific specific 3.5 kWh/m³ SEC specific energy consumption); ENERGY RECOVERY INC ERI: 300+; specific pressure exchanger ERD (specific specific PX-Q300 pressure exchanger: specific specific ceramic Al₂O₃ duplex rotor from specific specific duct inlet rotation from specific specific 98% isobaric efficiency from specific specific 300 m³/h flow at specific specific 70 bar from specific specific <15 psi interchange pressure from specific specific sleeve bearing from specific specific PEEK inlet from specific specific <2% salt cross-contamination from specific specific SWRO brine→low pressure feed from specific specific 2.5-3.5 kWh/m³ SEC vs. specific specific 10-12 kWh/m³ no ERD from specific specific <1% OPEX cost for specific specific Sorek 624,000 m³/day 3×PX-Q300 per RO train); IDE TECHNOLOGIES: 500+; specific SWRO plant (specific specific IDE SWRO plant design: specific specific 2-pass SWRO from specific specific intake+pre-treatment coagulation+UF from specific specific HP pump+ERD+RO trains from specific specific post-treatment lime+CO₂+NaOH from specific specific supervisory control SCADA from specific specific Israeli Sorek B 200,000 m³/day from specific specific Carlsbad USA 189,000 m³/day from specific specific SWRO 3.5 kWh/m³ for specific specific lowest SWRO energy globally); VEOLIA WATER: 3,000+; TORAY: 1,000+; SUEZ WATER: 2,000+; XYLEM; PORIFERA; DESALITECH: combined large IP portfolio.

RO membrane chemistry and spacer innovations for higher flux or lower fouling; energy recovery device innovations for higher efficiency SWRO; and closed-circuit RO CCRO innovations for high recovery inland brackish water desalination represent three core desalination patent domains: RO MEMBRANE PATENTS: DOW FILMTEC; TORAY; HYDRANAUTICS; LANXESS; NANOSTONE WATER: specific RO membrane innovations (specific specific aquaporin membrane: specific specific AqpZ aquaporin protein incorporated from specific specific lipid bilayer vesicle from specific specific thin film composite TFC support from specific specific 2,000 L/h/m² water permeability vs. specific specific 15.5 Lmh SW30 at specific specific same 55 bar from specific specific 99.5% NaCl rejection from specific specific Aquaporin Inside A/S from specific specific 8-inch SWRO element from specific specific <20% higher flux + specific specific same rejection vs. specific specific conventional TFC; specific specific nanocomposite TFC: specific specific zeolite NaA nanoparticle 100-300 nm from specific specific embedding in specific specific polyamide active layer at specific specific 0.4 wt% loading from specific specific 15% flux increase at specific specific same rejection from specific specific hydrophilic nanoparticle channel from specific specific anti-biofouling Ag-TiO₂ coating from specific specific UV-generated ROS reactive oxygen species for specific specific 80% biofouling reduction 30-day test vs. specific specific control TFC for specific specific fouling-prone municipal wastewater reclamation); ENERGY RECOVERY PATENTS: ENERGY RECOVERY INC; ISOBARIX (DESALITECH); KSB; GRUNDFOS: specific ERD innovations (specific specific turbocharger ERD: specific specific turbine+centrifugal pump from specific specific brine at 70 bar through specific specific turbine from specific specific 40-50% efficiency vs. specific specific 98% PX from specific specific Francis turbine design from specific specific 40-55 bar residual outlet from specific specific smaller footprint from specific specific 30-40% of specific specific PX for specific specific smaller-scale <100 m³/h BWRO trains; specific specific VorTeq missile: specific specific pressure vessel missile from specific specific liquid piston from specific specific 3-way control valve from specific specific 99%+ efficiency at specific specific high-salinity brine stream from specific specific no ceramic parts from specific specific 10 year lifetime); CLOSED-CIRCUIT RO CCRO PATENTS: DESALITECH (ACQUIRED BY SUEZ); PORIFERA; FLUENCE; HYREC: specific CCRO (specific specific CCRO process: specific specific closed-loop recirculation from specific specific oscillating pressure 15→70→15 bar from specific specific concentrate recycle from specific specific 95% recovery BWRO vs. specific specific 75% conventional from specific specific 2,000-10,000 ppm TDS brackish from specific specific osmotic pressure buildup + specific specific relaxation cycle from specific specific 30 psi ΔP from specific specific batch RO at specific specific 2 kWh/m³ SEC vs. specific specific 3 kWh/m³ conventional BWRO at specific specific same TDS+recovery for specific specific inland industrial process water zero liquid discharge ZLD near-zero).

Forward osmosis FO innovations for low-energy desalination with concentrated draw solutions; membrane distillation MD innovations for brine treatment and heat-driven desalination; and electrodialysis reversal EDR innovations for selective ion removal represent three additional desalination patent domains: FORWARD OSMOSIS PATENTS: PORIFERA; OASYS WATER (NOW DESALITECH); HTI; MIT: specific FO innovations (specific specific FO membrane: specific specific cellulose triacetate CTA integrally skinned from specific specific 50 μm total thickness from specific specific active layer 200 nm at specific specific 0 bar applied pressure from specific specific osmotic pressure driving force from specific specific A coefficient 1.5 Lmh/bar from specific specific B 0.35 Lmh NaCl rejection vs. specific specific TFC RO from specific specific draw solution NH₄HCO₃ at specific specific 70°C regeneration at specific specific 2× osmolarity seawater 60 bar π from specific specific 99%+ solute rejection in specific specific FO mode from specific specific 40% less energy from specific specific high-osmolarity brine treatment; specific specific engineered osmosis: specific specific FO pre-concentrate seawater from specific specific 3.5% → 7% TDS from specific specific SWRO post-treatment from specific specific 2-stage system 30% total energy reduction from specific specific nanofiltration NF draw recovery from specific specific MgSO₄ draw at specific specific 90% recovery from specific specific 1 kWh/m³ FO stage only from specific specific high-recovery industrial wastewater ZLD); MEMBRANE DISTILLATION PATENTS: MEMSYS (ACQUIRED BY IDE); AQUASTILL; SALTWORKS; VIRGINIA TECH: specific MD innovations (specific specific DCMD direct contact membrane distillation: specific specific PTFE membrane 0.2-0.5 μm pore from specific specific LEP liquid entry pressure >3.5 bar at specific specific hydrophobic contact angle >120° from specific specific 70-80°C hot feed at specific specific 20°C permeate from specific specific Jw 3-8 Lmh at specific specific GOR gain output ratio 3-7 from specific specific brine concentration 200,000 ppm TDS without specific specific membrane wetting from specific specific DCMD heat recovery >80% for specific specific ZLD brine crystallizer coupling from specific specific industrial produced water oil+gas; specific specific VMD vacuum membrane distillation: specific specific permeate vacuum <100 mbar from specific specific PTFE 0.2 μm from specific specific 60°C feed from specific specific 8-15 Lmh Jw from specific specific condenser recovery from specific specific 0.3 kWh/m³ low-grade waste heat from specific specific brewery+chemical plant process streams); ELECTRODIALYSIS PATENTS: EVOQUA; AMERIDIA; SALTWORKS; SUEZ GE WATER: specific EDR innovations (specific specific EDR electrodialysis reversal: specific specific anion+cation ion exchange membrane from specific specific alternating dilute+concentrate chambers from specific specific biphasic 15-30 min polarity reversal from specific specific scale prevention fouling from specific specific 4-600 V DC stack from specific specific 0.5-6 mA/cm² from specific specific 0.5-2 kWh/m³ 1,000-5,000 ppm BWRO vs. specific specific 0.3 kWh/m³ RO for specific specific selective ion removal from specific specific nitrate NO₃⁻ 90%+ at specific specific municipal drinking water at specific specific 600 ppm TDS from specific specific fluoride+arsenic+selenium removal at specific specific <0.01 mg/L for specific specific specific groundwater treatment).

Desalination startup IP strategy must recognize the dominance of large established players (Dow/DuPont FilmTec, Toray, Suez, Veolia, IDE) in core SWRO membrane and plant design IP; identify genuine whitespace in advanced membranes (aquaporin, nanocomposite), novel ERD designs, and alternative processes (FO, MD, CDI); and appreciate that water project economics ($/m³ levelized cost of water) and long-term plant performance data create competitive moats that complement but often exceed pure patent protection: DESALINATION STARTUP IP STRATEGY: UNDERSTAND THE DESALINATION IP LANDSCAPE: DOW FILMTEC AND TORAY DOMINATE SWRO MEMBRANE IP: Dow/DuPont FilmTec (2,000+) and Toray (1,000+) are the two largest SWRO membrane patent holders — the core TFC polyamide chemistry is well-established prior art, but specific membrane formulations, spacer geometries, element configurations, and anti-fouling treatments remain areas of active patenting; ENERGY RECOVERY INC HOLDS KEY PRESSURE EXCHANGER IP: Energy Recovery Inc (300+) holds the core isobaric pressure exchanger IP that dominates the SWRO ERD market — any startup designing an alternative ERD must carefully design around ERI&apos;s PX portfolio; IDE HOLDS LARGE SWRO PLANT DESIGN IP: IDE Technologies (500+) has a large portfolio covering integrated SWRO plant design, pre-treatment, process control, and energy optimization — important for any startup pursuing utility-scale SWRO projects in markets where IDE is active; DESALITECH/SUEZ HOLDS CCRO IP: DeSaliTech (acquired by Suez) holds the core CCRO closed-circuit RO patents — any startup developing batch RO or semi-batch RO for high-recovery brackish applications should review DeSaliTech CCRO IP; WHEN TO PATENT IN DESALINATION: NOVEL MEMBRANE WITH MEASURED PERMEABILITY, REJECTION, AND FOULING PERFORMANCE: specific novel membrane (specific specific material chemistry + specific specific structure + specific specific fabrication method) with specific measured performance metrics (specific specific water permeability A coefficient Lmh/bar, specific specific NaCl/B coefficient Lmh, specific specific rejection % at specific specific feed concentration and pressure, specific specific fouling rate after X hours at specific specific feed foulant concentration) vs. specific specific SW30 FilmTec or specific specific BW30 FilmTec baseline at specific specific same test conditions — performance data at standardized membrane test conditions (ASTM D4194) is essential to support membrane IP claims; NOVEL ENERGY RECOVERY DEVICE WITH MEASURED EFFICIENCY AND LIFETIME: specific novel ERD design (specific specific mechanism + specific specific materials + specific specific sealing) with specific measured metrics (specific specific isobaric efficiency % at specific specific operating pressure and flow, specific specific salt cross-contamination %, specific specific pressure drop psi at nominal flow, specific specific 10,000h wear test result) vs. specific specific ERI PX-Q300 baseline at specific specific same pressure+flow conditions — efficiency and durability data vs. ERI&apos;s published PX performance data is the key IP differentiator for ERD claims; NOVEL ZLD BRINE TREATMENT WITH MEASURED CONCENTRATION AND ENERGY: specific novel brine concentration system (specific specific process + specific specific membrane/material + specific specific operating conditions) with specific measured performance (specific specific output TDS concentration ppm or g/kg, specific specific water recovery %, specific specific specific energy kWh/m³, specific specific scaling/fouling performance over X days at specific specific brine composition) vs. specific specific conventional evaporation or specific specific crystallizer baseline at specific specific same brine input — ZLD brine management IP is in high demand from industrial and municipal desalination plants facing discharge restrictions; PROCESS ECONOMICS IP: $/m³ levelized cost of water data from pilot or full-scale demonstration, integrated with climate/intake modeling, creates proprietary know-how that complements patent protection and is defensible as trade secret; KEY FTO CHECKLIST: Dow FilmTec SW30 TFC polyamide 0.12 μm crosslinked aromatic MPD+TMC polysulfone 40 μm 99.7% rejection 15.5 Lmh 55 bar 32,000 ppm 25°C 8-inch 40 m²; ERI PX-Q300 ceramic Al₂O₃ rotor 98% isobaric 300 m³/h 70 bar <15 psi 2% salt cross-contamination 3.5 kWh/m³; DeSalitech CCRO closed-loop 95% recovery 15→70→15 bar oscillating pressure 2 kWh/m³ BWRO batch RO ZLD; Aquaporin AqpZ lipid bilayer TFC 2,000 L/h/m² 99.5% NaCl 8-inch element vs. SW30; CTA FO membrane 50 μm 0 bar NH₄HCO₃ draw 60 bar π 99%+ FO rejection; PTFE 0.2-0.5 μm MD 0.2 μm LEP >3.5 bar DCMD 70-80°C GOR 3-7 ZLD brine crystallizer; EDR ion exchange membrane 15-30 min polarity reversal 0.5-2 kWh/m³ NO₃⁻+fluoride+arsenic selective groundwater.