This manuscript reports on
research that is currently evaluating options for beneficial use for reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate, including use
in industries that require brine as a feedstock or process stream and production of marketable
salts or mineral commodities. The research is currently identifying recoverable products, such as
specific salts, that can be economically recovered from the concentrate stream, and is identifying
industrial processes that use brine solutions directly, which eliminate the need to dewater the
salts to dryness. Markets for the concentrate stream, such as industries that use brine solutions as
feed-stocks or process fluids are being identified. Technologies and processes, such as
crystallizers, brine concentrators, and other technologies that are used in zero-liquid discharge
applications are discussed in this paper in the context of their viability for use in the water
treatment industry. Includes 15 references, tables, figures.