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HEDoctoral network2022–2026

EXBRINER · Next-generation membrane technologies for sustainable exploitation of seawater brine resources: transition towards a circular blue industry

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-10-01 → 2026-09-30
EU contribution
€2,617,265
Participants
15
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Next-generation membrane technologies for sustainable exploitation of seawater brine resources:transition towards a circular blue industry

The European Union (EU) is facing significant societal challenges due to its high reliance on imported critical raw materials (CRMs), including metals essential for strategic sectors such as renewable energy, automotive, aerospace, and defense. Current geopolitical uncertainties and geographically concentrated supply chains exacerbate supply risks, with certain materials sourced predominantly from a few countries. This dependence threatens the sustainability and resilience of EU industries, particularly as global demand for CRMs is projected to rise dramatically with the transition to green and digital technologies. Key measures include enhancing domestic extraction, processing, and recycling capabilities to reduce import reliance and diversify supply chains. Additionally, the EU actively supports the exploration of alternative and unconventional sources of CRMs, such as brine from seawater desalination, which is under investigation in the ongoing EXBRINER project. Discharged desalination brine is a severe environmental problem associated with the extensive use of SWRO desalination technology, exacerbated by the relatively low water recovery factor (40–50%) of current plants. EXBRINER, aligned with the principles of the Circular Economy, aims to develop next-generation membranes and membrane-based processes to transform desalination by-products into valuable resources. This innovative approach explores the potential of desalination brine (but research outcomes can be transferred to other natural and industrial brine sources) as future "mine," leveraging advanced technological solutions to recover critical raw materials and reduce environmental impact. By converting waste into value, EXBRINER not only addresses sustainability challenges but also contributes to resource efficiency and the diversification of raw material supply chains, which are crucial for industrial and technological resilience.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The MSCA-DN programme “EXBRINER/Next-generation membrane technologies for sustainable exploitation of seawater brine resources: transition towards a ""circular blue industry” is designed to train a new generation of doctoral candidates in Membrane Engineering by means of a synergic cross-fertilization of complementary competences centered on the development of innovative membrane technologies at water-energy-resources nexus for a sustainable valorization of desalination wastes. The doctoral programme is implemented through an inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary Network, composed by 8 Universities, 3 Research Centers and 4 Industrial Companies (two of them are SMEs) from 8 European Countries, all with recognized excellence in the field of membrane technology. Based on more than 10 years of joint experience in Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate/Master in Membrane Engineering, the Consortium shares a common infrastructural platform - with worldwide recognized excellence - for implementing highly competitive and jointly supervised training and research activities. Those activities, oriented towards societal needs of strategic relevance for the European Union, cover a large spectrum of “market-relevant” applications such as: sustainable desalination for water supply, exploring alternative mineral sources for a secure supply of critical raw materials, low-carbon power technologies based on Salinity Gradient energy.""

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITA DELLA CALABRIA · ARCAVACATA DI RENDECoordinatorItaly
  • AALBORG UNIVERSITET · AalborgDenmark
  • CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE · RomaItaly
  • FCC AQUALIA SA · MadridSpain
  • FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA · GenovaItaly
  • GVS SPA · Zola PredosaItaly
  • INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES APPLIQUEES DE TOULOUSE · ToulouseFrance
  • KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenBelgium
  • PCCELL GMBH · MARPINGENGermany
  • POLITECNICO DI MILANO · MilanoItaly
  • POLYMEM · CASTANET-TOLOSANFrance
  • UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA · LisboaPortugal
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DELL'AQUILA · L AQUILAItaly
  • UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA · BARCELONASpain
  • VYSOKA SKOLA CHEMICKO-TECHNOLOGICKA V PRAZE · PRAHACzechia

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union