A Review of Reject Brine Disposal, Management, and Construction Applications

Desalination is becoming crucial to meet the increasing global demand for potable water. Despite its benefits, desalination produces reject brine, a highly concentrated saline byproduct, which poses substantial environmental risks if not managed properly. It contains high levels of salts and other potentially harmful compounds, which, when discharged into oceans or land, can disrupt habitats, degrade soil quality, and harm biodiversity, creating serious environmental challenges. In response to these challenges, this study investigated various uses for reject brine, aiming to reduce its environmental footprint and explore its potential applications. This review paper synthesizes findings from previous studies on the disposal, management, and applications of reject brine in fields such as concrete production, road construction, and ground stabilization. In addition, this review highlights the potential cost savings and resource efficiency resulting from the utilization of reject brine, as well as the mitigation of environmental impacts associated with traditional disposal methods. This paper also provides a comprehensive overview of existing technologies and approaches used to utilize reject brine in various industries, including construction. This review contributes to the growing body of knowledge on environmentally friendly solutions for reject brine, emphasizing its potential role in supporting sustainable development goals through resource reutilization and waste minimization. The study also highlights current research gaps that are still unaddressed, hindering the complete realization of the full potential of reject brine as a sustainable resource.