Investigating the Potential of Converting Reject Brine into a Lightweight Sustainable Construction Material

The increasing global demand for potable water has led to the increase of desalination plants. However, desalination processes, especially reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash distillation, produce large quantities of reject brine, a highly concentrated saline byproduct. This highly saline waste presents significant environmental challenges due to its potential to harm marine ecosystems, disrupt aquatic life, and degrade water quality when discharged into the ocean when discharged into the sea. This study explores the feasibility of transforming reject brine into a sustainable lightweight construction material. Through a series of initial experimental processes, reject brine was chemically treated, coated with plastic waste, and combined with lightweight aggregate to produce a lightweight material suitable for construction. Initial results indicate that the treated brine-based material exhibits promising characteristics and mechanical properties, including adequate compressive strength, reduced density, and good durability. This makes it a viable and economical alternative to traditional construction materials. This approach mitigates the environmental impact of desalination, reduces the construction industry’s carbon footprint, and contributes to the development of sustainable construction practices. Future research should focus on scaling up the production process, conducting long-term performance evaluations, and assessing the economic viability of this approach to facilitate its adoption in real-world applications.