Desalination and Emerging Technologies

Catalog description

This course takes advantage of close proximity to one of the first inland desalination plants that uses saline groundwater for freshwater production. Students will learn about the full range of desalination technologies in use and under development. Instruction will include membrane systems, microfiltration, distillation, atmospheric water generation, reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, brine disposal, electrodialysis, solar desalination, and small-scale desalination solutions. Students will participate in a field trip to a production-scale desalination facility where they will discuss desalination technologies and plant operations with practicing operators and technical experts. Students will also participate in a small-group cooperative research project from which a scientific report will be written. Results of the research will be orally presented to the class as a scientific report/paper. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing