Boston, Massachusetts – United States, October 21, 2022 – The IDRA 2022 World Congress in Sydney commenced on Sunday, October 9th, to lead meaningful global discussions on water security, coupled with a peer-reviewed four-day, four-track technical program. The 2022 WC theme “Charting Resilient Water Solutions” is pivotal to the global conversations surrounding the growing demand for a sustainable source of fresh and clean water in response to population growth, industrial needs, degradation of existing resources, the energy-water-food nexus, and the effects of climate change.
“Our industry has great momentum to address the most serious water challenges in the world, and this momentum is driven by events such as the IDRA World Congress, whereby the IDRA member community and its connections come together to showcase and discuss the best technical and current opportunities and developments in the industry. It’s exciting to see how the industry is moving toward more sustainable, water positive solutions such as the valorization of brine mining and the efficiencies gained through digital desalination,” said Dr. Mike Dixon, IDRA WC Technical Program Co-Chairman, and CEO of Synauta.
The Technical Program topics addressed:
Topic 1. Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination
Topic 2. Water Reuse, Potable and Non-Potable, including Public Outreach
Topic 3. Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment
Topic 4. Coupling Desalination and Renewable Energy
Topic 5. Emerging Technologies, Emerging Issues, and Emerging Contaminants
Topic 6. Membrane Science
Topic 7. Environment and Sustainability
Topic 8. Governance, Finance, and Project Delivery
Topic 9. Thermal Desalination
Topic 10. Pre-Treatment and Post Treatment
Topic 11. Plant Operations and Digitization
Topic 12. Brine Management and Resource Recovery
“Selective separations have emerged as a topic of growing research during the IDRA conference. Innovations in lithium recovery, valorization of high salinity brines, and tailored brackish water treatment for irrigation were among the topics covered. Batch and counterflow reverse osmosis also gained much attention, as did the application of AI/ML technologies to desalination systems and small renewable-drive systems for remote use showed significant progress. Renewed research interest also attended seafloor RO and nuclear desalination,” stated Professor John H. Lienhard V, IDRA WC Technical Program Co-Chairman, Professor, and the founding Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab, J-WAFS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.
In addition to three opening ceremony moonshot presentations addressing Atomic Energy for Desalination, the Future of Water, and Being Water Positive, over 190 technical papers were presented, and several panel discussions were held.
Winners of the Technical Program Awards, along with a commendation announcement (new to the Congress) included the following:
State-of The Art Award
The paper that best presented the application of an established desalination or water reuse technology to reflect the best engineering practices in all aspects of the project or topic presented is significant for the global water industry.
Winner: Mr. Aatman Shah, Business Development Director (MENA), Nanostone
Paper: Nanostone Water Innovative Ceramic Membrane Technology in Water Treatment Applications
Commendation: Mr. Mohannad Malki, CEO/Technical Director, American Water Chemicals (AWC)
Paper: The Perils of Using Chloramines for Pre-Treatment of Water Reuse RO
Research and Development Award
Paper that best presents fundamental or applied research of a technology or concept related to desalination or water reuse is at a pre-commercialization stage but shows exciting signs of development that could lead to impactful discoveries or technologies once at maturity.
Winner: Dr. Victor Monsalvo, Head of Eco-efficiency Area, Innovation and Technology, Aqualia
Paper: Sea4Value: Novel Technologies in Seawater Desalination to Extract Minerals and Metals from Seawater Brines
Commendation: Mr. Borja Blanco, CEO, Aqua Advise
Paper: Membrane Design of a Sub-Sea Desalination System
Innovation Award
Paper that best presents innovative desalination or water reuse technology that has reached the commercial stage is not yet considered to be widely adopted but is likely to become a game-changer for the industry.
Winner: Eng. Dragan Tutic, CEO & Founder, Oneka Technologies
Paper: Wave-Powered Desalination: A Sustainable Way to Increase Resilience to Water Scarcity
Commendation: Dr. Richard Stover, VP of Technology, Gradiant
Paper: Energy Recovery Devices in Advanced and Emerging Reverse Osmosis Applications
Environment and Sustainability Award
The paper best presents a desalination or water reuse topic, case study, a technology, or any project in such a way that demonstrates how desalination can be applied while respecting the environment and applying the best sustainability principles.
Winner: Mrs. Miriam Brusilovsky, Technical Director – Assets, IDE Technologies, and Media Manager, Israeli Desalination Society
Paper: Israel as a Model for Environmentally Responsible Desalination
Commendation: Dr. Matthew Brannock, Technical Director – Water & Brine Process, GHD
Paper: Water for Hydrogen Production: Challenges and Opportunities Supported by Real-World Case Studies
Two awards were presented in the Young Leaders Category.
YLP Best Paper
Paper best presented by a member of the IDRA Young Leaders Program demonstrating scientific originality relevant and vital to the fields of desalination and water reuse.
Winner(s): Dr. Antonella De Luca, Head of Competence Center Environmental Solutions, Omya / Dr. Anat Lakretz-Mashiah, Desalination Process engineer, Mekorot Water Co., Desalination & Special Projects Division (co-authors)
Paper: Techno-Economic Evaluation of Magnesium Replenishment Options After Desalination
Commendation: Mr. Abdulaziz Alghamdi, PDP Mechanical Engineer, ACWA Power
Paper: Twenty Percent Internal Renewable Energy Powering RO Plant
Emerging Leader – Achievement Award
This award goes to an IDRA Young Leader’s Program member whose contribution to the desalination and water reuse industry has shown a track record of positive leadership and originality.
Winner: Dr. Antonella De Luca, Head of Competence Center Environmental Solutions, Omya
IDRA will soon open the Call for Papers for the IDRA Seville Summit on Water and Climate Change, October 16-18, 2023, in Seville, Spain, and in early 2023 for the IDRA 2024 World Congress to be held December 2024 and hosted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy.
