Category Archives: Industry

Industrial Symbiosis Prospects in Jordan

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In a developing country, such as Jordan, with a relatively emerging economy and limited natural resources, the industrial sector expends more effort than developed countries and even more than developing countries that are rich in natural resources. In such a situation, industries should look into finding solutions to sustain their existence, which is not confined to keeping their production lines running and making profit, but it goes beyond that, it goes to a whole way of thinking a way that integrates the surrounding environment and that confirms on the industrial sector responsibility toward the environment, the home of its raw … Continue reading →

Valorization of Desalination Brines into Molten Salts, Carbonates and Thermal Fluids

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The management of brines generated from seawater desalination has become a central issue in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in Mediterranean basin countries and the Middle East. The rapid increase in desalination capacity, especially through reverse osmosis, has helped secure access to drinking water but has also generated a growing stream of hypersaline discharges. Global estimates indicate that worldwide brine production now exceeds 140 million m³/day, or more than 50 billion m³/year, with continuous growth driven by industrial desalination development [1]. One of the most widely studied pathways is the transformation of salts contained in brine into materials for thermal … Continue reading →

Critical Minerals and the Water–Environment Nexus: Challenges and Pathways for Sustainable Extraction

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The rapid acceleration of the global energy transition has placed critical minerals at the center of economic, technological, and geopolitical transformations. Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper are indispensable for renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, digital infrastructure, and energy storage technologies. International institutions including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations (UN), and the European Union (EU) increasingly describe these resources as the backbone of decarbonization pathways [1]. However, the expansion of critical mineral extraction raises profound environmental concerns, particularly regarding water consumption, water pollution, ecosystem degradation, and social inequalities. While these materials are … Continue reading →

British Coal as a Warning for the Global Energy Transition

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The history of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain is often portrayed as a linear path of technological progress and economic expansion. Yet this narrative conceals structural costs that, in light of today’s energy transition challenges, deserve rigorous re-examination. The rise of coal in the 18th and 19th centuries formed the energy backbone of modern industrialization, enabling unprecedented growth in production, urbanization, and trade. However, this transformation came with deep and lasting social, environmental, and economic damages, some of whose underlying mechanisms risk being replicated today in the global energy transition, characterized by a heavy reliance on critical minerals whose … Continue reading →

Rethinking Desalination through Digital Twins: From Energy-Intensive Processes to Intelligent Water Systems

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The increasing global water scarcity driven by climate change, population growth, and industrial expansion has positioned desalination, particularly seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), as a strategic solution for ensuring water security. However, desalination processes remain energy-intensive, operationally complex, and sensitive to variations in feedwater quality and membrane performance. In this context, the emergence of the Digital Twin represents a paradigm shift in the management and optimization of desalination systems. What is Digital Twin? A digital twin is generally defined as a dynamic virtual replica of a physical system that integrates real-time data, physics-based models, and advanced analytics to simulate, predict, and … Continue reading →

Desalination Membranes as RDF for Cement Kilns: Opportunities and Constraints

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The rapid expansion of desalination through reverse osmosis has significantly transformed global water resource management, but it has also created a growing challenge related to the management of end-of-life membranes. These industrial wastes, mainly composed of engineering polymers such as polyamide, polysulfone, and polypropylene, exhibit physicochemical properties that, while initially optimized for filtration, may become an asset within an energy recovery framework [1-2]. The average lifespan of reverse osmosis membranes ranges from five to ten years, generating substantial waste streams worldwide [1]. As an order of magnitude, a desalination plant with a capacity of 100,000 m³/day can generate between 2,000 … Continue reading →

التحديات البيئة لقطاع الطاقة في المملكة العربية السعودية

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بالرغم من جهود المجتمع الدولي والعلماء المختصين بالبيئة في سبيل تقليل الاعتماد على الوقود الاحفوري كمصدر رئيسي للطاقة واستبداله بمصادر نظيفة ومنجددة للطاقة, الا ان الوقود الاحفوري والمتمثل بالنفط والغاز يبقى المصدر الرئيسي المعتمد والاكثر فاعلية. ونقلا عن فان الطلب العالمي على الوقود الاحفوري سيتزايد في المستقبل. ان معدل انتاج النفط والغاز قد تزايد تدريجيا منذ السبعينيات الى سنة 2020, وذالك تبعا للطلب المتزايد عليه. ان المشكل الرئيسي في الاعتماد على النفط والغاز كمصدر رئيسي للطاقة يكمن في نسبة التلوث البيئي الذي يخلفه هذا الوقود خلال انتاجه . على سبيل المثال, تطلق شركات النفط والغاز مايقارب 2000 طن من المواد … Continue reading →

Polylactic Acid – An Emerging Bioplastic

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During the last decade, the movement towards bio-based products has increased dramatically as a result of increasing environment awareness and high increase in fossil fuel prices. That is why companies like Polymer Chemistry Innovations must offer products based on new environmental trends. Polylactic Acid (PLA) is an eco-friendly bioplastic derived from lactic acid which can be produced by fermentation of renewable resources. It is a new type of biocompatible material produced from utilizing lactic acid as monomer. Since lactic acid is a non-toxic component, which exists in human metabolism, PLA is safe polyester for human-related applications. In comparison to traditional plastics, … Continue reading →

Environmental Challenges in Saudi Arabia’s Oil and Gas Industry

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Despite the efforts of global society and scientists to reduce the dependency on oil and gas as a main source of energy and find new green and renewable energy sources, the oil remains the most effective one. The oil production rate has increased incrementally from the 1970s to the 2020s, which is driven by the demand for oil. A Global Problem The main problem with the dependence on oil and gas as a primary source of energy lies in the huge pollution caused by the industry. For example, oil enterprises and petroleum companies currently release about 2000 tons of chemicals … Continue reading →

Mastering Energy Management for a Zero-Carbon Future

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Global power consumption is rising at an unprecedented rate. Managing how we generate, store, and consume power is no longer just an operational consideration for large utility companies. It is a fundamental necessity for businesses, industries, and homeowners alike. Effective energy management holds the key to unlocking massive cost savings, ensuring operational resilience, and driving the global transition toward a zero-carbon economy. This guide explores the critical role of energy management, the innovative technologies powering this revolution, and how advanced energy storage solutions contribute to broader sustainability goals. You will learn about the real-world applications of these technologies across various … Continue reading →

Sustainable Industry: Role of Eco-Friendly Crane Rail Clips

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Heavy industry rarely brings to mind images of lush green forests or pristine oceans. Foundries, ports, and manufacturing plants consume massive amounts of energy and raw materials. Yet, the push for environmental responsibility is changing how these facilities operate. Facility managers and engineers now look at every single component to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One component often overlooked is the crane rail clip. These small but mighty pieces of hardware secure heavy-duty crane tracks to their foundations. They keep overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and port cranes moving safely. Upgrading to eco-friendly crane rail clips offers a surprisingly … Continue reading →

Economics of Desalination and Local Integration: Comparative Analysis of CAPEX, OPEX, and Industrial Dynamics in Water-Scarce Regions

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Seawater desalination has established itself as a cornerstone of water security in arid and semi-arid regions. Population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and climate variability have significantly increased pressure on conventional water resources, making the use of non-conventional sources essential. Globally, installed desalination capacity has grown steadily over the past two decades, with tens of thousands of units in operation and daily production exceeding 100 million m³/day [1,2]. This expansion is particularly pronounced in the MENA region, which accounts for a majority of global capacity due to its structural water deficit.   Technological advances have profoundly changed the economics of the … Continue reading →