Beyond freshwater generation: Mineral extraction from seawater desalination brine and seawater greenhouse (SG) farming

Salt-Mine-prosjektet er en del av Belmont Forums Collaborative Research Action om bærekraftig bruk av havet og marine ressurser (SDG nr. 14 og Ocean-Decade). Prosjektkonsortiet samler syv partnerinstitutter og en rekke interessentorganisasjoner fra Somalia, Kenya, Sør-Afrika og Norge. Pågående forskning inkluderer studier som tilfører verdi til saltlake ved avsalting av sjøvann, inkludert 1. Vurdere den kommersielle levedyktigheten til et utviklingsland-tilpassbart sjøvannsveksthus på de kenyanske og somaliske kystene for integrert produksjon av ferskvann, avlinger og håndverksutvinning av verdifulle mineralsalter fra sjøvannslake 2. En Ph.D. student ved Wits University utvikler membranbasert teknologi for utvinning av høyrent magnesium fra saltlake. 3. To MSc. Studentprosjekter utforsket rimelig teknologi for utvinning av magnesium og litium fra saltlake. 4. Ytterligere to MSc-studenter ved University of Nairobi studerer den miljømessige og sosioøkonomiske virkningen av drift og utslipp av sjøvannsavsaltingsanlegg (SDP) på den kenyanske kysten og 5. Studier for å etablere de økologiske grunnforholdene ved foreslåtte SDP-utslippspunkter i Durban og Witsand i Sør-Afrika. Salt-Mine-konsortiet har søkt Global Research Councils Pilot Collaborative Call on Sustainable Development Goals for å videreutvikle denne forskningen.

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Salt-Mine is one of 13 projects funded under the Belmont Forum`s Collaborative Research Action on Ocean Sustainability, within the framework of the United Nations` Sustainable Development Goals-SDG no. 14 on sustainable use of the oceans and marine resources.The Salt-Mine consortium brings together researchers from eight partner institutes and fourteen stakeholder organisations from five countries in three continents: Norway (Norwegian Institute for Water Research-NIVA and The Norwegian University of Science & Technology-NTNU); Australia (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-CSIRO); South Africa (Wits University and The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Durban); Kenya (Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute-KMFRI and EfD-Environment for Development institute at the University of Nairobi) and Somalia (PENHA-Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa). Salt-Mine will synergise with Coast-LaB (2019-2022) project, a bilateral research action between Norway and South Africa on ocean sustainability. Norwegian researchers in Salt-Mine will contribute in seawater desalination brine valorisation studies including; 1. Lab and field tests for extraction of high purity minerals from seawater brine using high tech (lithium-selective membrane-based) and affordable artisanal methods. 2. Studying the Environmental and socioeconomic impact of seawater desalination plant(SDP) operation and discharge on the environment by comparing the environmental legislation/regulations governing SDP discharge in the five partner countries. 3. Studies to establish the baseline ecological conditions at proposed SDP discharge points in Mombasa, Cape Town, Durban and Witsand (where new SDPs are planned or already in operation) so as to quantify these effects after the plants are in operation and 4. Assess and account for the impact of SDPs` energy demand, greenhouse gases and pollutant emissions and other stressors like energy demand