The goal of this proposal is to improve the solvent performance in temperature swing solvent extraction for brine desalination

Temperature swing solvent extraction utilizes an organic solvent with temperature-dependent water solubility to dissolve water at a lower temperature to concentrate or crystallize the brine and the phases are separated. Then, the water-in-solvent mixture is heated to reduce water solubility and induce phase separation between the solvent and water. The solvent and DE-salted water phases are separated, and the regenerated solvent can be recycled. Issues with current temperature swing solvent extraction solvents include the high solvent in water solubility, low water uptake, and unknown solvent toxicity. This project addresses these issues by utilizing intertwined experimental and computational techniques to design glycerol-based solvents for temperature swing solvent extraction. Computational simulations will guide solvent design and solvent synthesis and performance will guide computational simulations. Federal funds and cost share funds (1:1 match) will be used to fund the PI and CO-PIS to direct experiments and computations, data analysis, and reporting requirements, to fund graduate students to perform the experiments, to fund travel to a conference and to reclamation at lakewood, colorado, and to fund materials and supplies needed for the project. The key outcome of this project is to produce a solvent that (1) dissolves 10 WT water, (2) dissolves in water at a concentration 300 MG KG for the tsse process. This proposal addresses the nofo objectives to (1) reduce the environmental impacts of seawater desalination and develop technology and strategies to minimize those impacts, (2) carry out basic and applied research on next-generation desalination technologies, including improved energy recovery systems and renewable energy-powered desalination systems that could significantly reduce desalination costs, (3) develop and promote innovative desalination technologies, including concentrate management and chloride control, and (4) develop cost-effective approaches for concentrate management that minimize potential environmental impacts. The project is expected to last 2 years (24 months) with a projected start date of october 1ST, 2023, and a projected end date of september 30TH, 2025. The proposed project location is at the university of alabama in tuscaloosa, alabama and does not require work to be conducted at a federal facility.