seawaterbased

Seawater-based is a broad descriptor used to characterize processes, products, or systems that rely on seawater as a primary resource, medium, or feedstock. It is not a single field but a cross-cutting concept applied in water treatment, energy, chemistry, and coastal industries.

In water treatment, seawater is often the feedwater for desalination and purification to supply freshwater for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use. Common technologies include reverse osmosis and thermal methods, with environmental considerations focused on the management of concentrated brine and energy use. In energy and electrochemistry, seawater serves as an electrolyte in some maritime and coastal technologies, and salinity-gradient approaches such as osmotic power aim to harvest energy from the mixing of seawater with freshwater.

In chemistry and materials, seawater or seawater-derived brines can be used as feedstocks for mineral extraction or as electrolytes in certain electrochemical processes. These applications face challenges from corrosion, scaling, and the presence of impurities, requiring specialized equipment and pretreatment. In coastal industry, seawater is used for cooling, process water, and aquaculture; seawater-based farming includes the cultivation of seaweed and halophytic crops in appropriate environments.

Advantages of seawater-based approaches include the abundant, geographically widespread resource provided by oceans, which can reduce freshwater demand in coastal regions. Key challenges involve corrosion, biofouling, high salinity handling, energy intensity, and environmental impacts from brine discharge that must be managed through treatment and careful site regulation. Related topics include desalination, blue energy, halophyte agriculture, and brine management.