Date of Defense
24-4-2025 10:00 AM
Location
F1-1118
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Water Resources
College
COE
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Keywords
Date palm leaf ash, brine desalination, carbon capture, agricultural waste, ion removal, sustainable solutions, circular economy.
Abstract
The United Arab Emirates faces significant challenges in managing reject brine from desalination processes. Additionally, the energy-intensive nature of desalination contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). This study explores the potential of date palm leaf ash, an underutilized agricultural waste, as a sustainable material for brine desalination and CO2 capture. Date palm leaves were converted into ash through incineration at 550°C and 750°C, followed by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide. The study evaluated the ash's efficiency in removing key ions (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+) from reject brine and capturing CO2, while optimizing process conditions using response surface methodology. The results demonstrated that activated date palm leaf ash, under optimized conditions, effectively removed up to 37% of sodium, 25% of magnesium, 42% of calcium, and 35% of potassium. The ash also exhibited a CO2 capture capacity of 2.94 mmol CO2/g ash, comparable to traditional materials like activated carbon and biochar. Advanced characterization techniques, including SEM, EDS, FTIR, and XRD, revealed that the ash's porous structure and chemical composition contributed to its adsorption and carbon capture capabilities. The study also highlighted the importance of activation temperature and CO2 interaction in enhancing the ash's performance. These findings suggest that date palm leaf ash is a promising, cost-effective, and sustainable solution for brine desalination and CO2 capture, aligning with the principles of a circular economy. The use of agricultural waste not only addresses environmental challenges but also provides a dual-purpose material for water treatment and carbon sequestration. Future research should focus on optimizing production processes, assessing long-term performance, and exploring broader applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.
Included in
SUSTAINABLE DESALINATION: CARBON CAPTURE FROM REJECT BRINE USING UAE DATE PALM LEAF
F1-1118
The United Arab Emirates faces significant challenges in managing reject brine from desalination processes. Additionally, the energy-intensive nature of desalination contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). This study explores the potential of date palm leaf ash, an underutilized agricultural waste, as a sustainable material for brine desalination and CO2 capture. Date palm leaves were converted into ash through incineration at 550°C and 750°C, followed by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide. The study evaluated the ash's efficiency in removing key ions (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+) from reject brine and capturing CO2, while optimizing process conditions using response surface methodology. The results demonstrated that activated date palm leaf ash, under optimized conditions, effectively removed up to 37% of sodium, 25% of magnesium, 42% of calcium, and 35% of potassium. The ash also exhibited a CO2 capture capacity of 2.94 mmol CO2/g ash, comparable to traditional materials like activated carbon and biochar. Advanced characterization techniques, including SEM, EDS, FTIR, and XRD, revealed that the ash's porous structure and chemical composition contributed to its adsorption and carbon capture capabilities. The study also highlighted the importance of activation temperature and CO2 interaction in enhancing the ash's performance. These findings suggest that date palm leaf ash is a promising, cost-effective, and sustainable solution for brine desalination and CO2 capture, aligning with the principles of a circular economy. The use of agricultural waste not only addresses environmental challenges but also provides a dual-purpose material for water treatment and carbon sequestration. Future research should focus on optimizing production processes, assessing long-term performance, and exploring broader applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.