Controlled mixing of streams of seawater and river water could be a potential source of energy in the future. Energy is released by this process due to the salt concentration gradient produced.
But obtaining control of the mixing is not straightforward. Much effort has been invested in optimizing semi-permeable membranes which control the transport of water or ions across them.
Hoek and coworkers present a review of current progress in this field and make suggestions for potential future developments based on their findings.
Read their Energy and Environmental Science Perspective at:
Membrane-based production of salinity-gradient power
Guy Z. Ramon, Benjamin J. Feinberg and Eric M. V. Hoek
Energy Environ. Sci., 2011
DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01913A
