Advancements in reverse osmosis desalination: Technology, environment, economy, and bibliometric insights

Reverse osmosis (RO) desalination has emerged as a crucial technology for addressing global water scarcity challenges, with significant advancements in recent decades. Despite its widespread adoption, there remains a need for comprehensive analysis of research trends, technological innovations, and life cycle impacts to guide future developments in this field. This review paper presents a multifaceted examination of RO desalination, combining bibliometric analysis with in-depth assessments of technological advancements as well as environmental and economic life cycle impacts. The bibliometric analysis reveals substantial growth in RO desalination research, identifying key contributors, geographical hubs of innovation, and emerging research themes. Technological advancements explored include high-permeability and anti-fouling membranes, novel system configurations like closed circuit and flow reversal RO, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for process optimization. Environmental life cycle assessments highlight the significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy integration, with studies showing up to 90 % reduction compared to grid-powered systems. The impact of different water intake methods and intended uses of permeated water on environmental performance is also examined. The study also compares costs across different countries and energy sources, finding conventional fossil fuels currently most economical but noting the potential for renewable energy integration to enhance sustainability. This comprehensive review offers valuable insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers involved in developing and implementing sustainable desalination solutions. By synthesizing diverse aspects of RO desalination research and practice, this study contributes to the ongoing efforts to optimize this technology for addressing water scarcity while minimizing environmental impacts and economic costs. The paper concludes by identifying key areas for future research, including innovative membrane technologies, renewable energy integration, and advanced AI applications, to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of RO desalination systems. • Comprehensive bibliometric analysis reveals key trends in RO desalination research. • Novel high-permeability membranes reduce energy consumption in RO desalination. • AI-based models optimize RO operations and predict fouling in real-time. • Life cycle assessments show 90 % GHG reduction using renewable energy in RO systems. • Cost analysis highlights the economic feasibility of large-scale RO desalination plants.