On the cost of electrodialysis for the desalination of high salinity feeds

McGovern explores the cost effectiveness of electrodialysis for the desalination of “produced waters from shale formation in order to facilitate water reuse in subsequent hydraulic fracturing processes.” The paper creates a numerical model for analyzing costs associated with desalination of salt water process streams depending on equipment, produce stream, and economic parameters. The findings indicate that electrodialysis is a cost-effective method to partially desalinate high salinity waters when compared to current vapor compression desalination processes. The application can be extended to water treatment of textile dye waste waters, potash waste waters, and salt waters for drinking water.