Development of a novel adsorbent to extract rubidium from sea water

从海水反渗透淡化厂废弃的盐水的处置导致主要的污染问题，并且现有的解决方案是昂贵的。在进一步浓缩卤水后回收有价值的金属如铷（Rb）将带来环境和经济效益。该项目旨在开发一种新型的电纺纳米纤维膜蒸馏膜，以经济地浓缩盐水，并开发新型的吸附剂和解吸剂，以回收有价值的Rb。由于出售铷可抵销浓缩成本，故预期浓缩及回收铷将带来可持续的卤水处理方式。

Disposal of rejected brine from seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants causes major pollution problems and existing solutions are expensive. Recovery of valuable metals such as rubidium (Rb) after further concentration of the brine will lead to environmental and economic benefits. This project aims to develop a novel electrospun nanofibre membrane distillation membrane to economically concentrate the brine and to develop novel adsorbents and desorbents to recover the valuable Rb. It is expected that the concentration and recovery of Rb will lead to a sustainable way of handling the brine, as the concentration cost can be offset by the selling of Rb.