Modular Industrial Symbiosis Desalination Towers with Brine-to-Minerals ZLD and CO2 Mineralization

Coastal desalination is expanding under water scarcity, yet conventional approaches are limited by fouling, operational complexity, and the environmental burden of brine discharge. This study proposes a modular humidification dehumidification tower concept designed for industrial symbiosis, where desalination units are co-located with coastal industrial and power facilities. The process uses an HDH core with high surface area atomization, a multi-stage aerosol removal train to protect product quality, and phased multi-tower operation to manage vapor saturation, smooth transient loads, and enable maintenance without stopping production. On the brine side, the study integrates a brine-to-minerals pathway targeting zero liquid discharge through staged precipitation and crystallization, followed by CO2 mineralization to generate carbonated construction co-products and reduce environmental impact. The work outlines a site-based design basis, process train definition, modeling and analysis framework, experimental validation plan, and screening techno-economic and environmental assessments for retrofit and standalone deployments.