Author(s): Berna Cris C Gomez, Justine G Aron, Judilyn R Aron and Renjo D Contreras

Abstract: This study investigated the recovery and characterization of salt extracted from desalination wastewater using two conventional methods: the boiling method and the solar drying method. The study aimed to evaluate the morphology, elemental composition, and microbial quality of the recovered salts to determine their potential for reuse. Desalination brine was subjected to boiling until crystallization and to solar drying in a greenhouse setup until complete evaporation. The resulting salts were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), while microbial assessment for Escherichia coli (E. coli) was conducted using Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar following the American Society for Microbiology protocols. SEM-EDX results revealed that both extraction methods produced salts primarily composed of sodium chloride (NaCl), with trace elements such as magnesium, calcium, sulfur, and thallium. The boiling method yielded finer, well-defined cubic crystals, whereas the solar drying method produced larger, irregular formations. Microbial analysis confirmed the absence of E. coli in all samples, indicating effective bacterial elimination through both thermal and desiccation processes. However, non-lactose fermenting bacteria were observed in the wastewater sample, suggesting minor microbial presence unrelated to E. coli. The study concludes that desalination wastewater can serve as a secondary source of recoverable salts suitable for non-food applications. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on sustainable desalination by-product management, highlighting opportunities for resource recovery and circular economy integration in wastewater utilization.

DOI: 10.22271/fish.2025.v13.i6b.3185

Pages: 126-131  |  162 Views  76 Downloads

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