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03 - A NOVA GERAÇÃO DE PLANTAS DE OSMOSE REVERSA: INSIGHTS CIENCIOMÉTRICOS SOBRE MATERIAIS, EFICIÊNCIA E SUSTENTABILIDADE

Doi: 10.47094/ICOLUBRAPECI.2026/RS-69

PALAVRAS CHAVE: Osmose reversa. Dessalinização. Segurança hídrica.

KEYWORDS: Reverse osmosis. Desalination. Water security.

ABSTRACT:
Introduction: The intensification of global water scarcity—exacerbated by climate pressures, population growth, and industrial expansion—has established desalination as an essential strategy for water security, with reverse osmosis (RO) emerging as the predominant technology due to its high efficiency and operational maturity. Between 2020 and 2025, significant progress was observed in materials, processes, and energy integration, driven by the need to reduce costs, mitigate environmental impacts, and enhance the viability of large-scale plants. In this context, understanding the scientific and technological evolution of RO is crucial for identifying emerging trends and guiding strategic decisions. Objective: This study aims to conduct an in-depth scientometric mapping of the technological evolution of reverse osmosis desalination plants from 2020 to 2025, analyzing scientific output indexed in the Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases, with a focus on innovations, international collaborations, and technological frontiers. Methodology: Specific descriptors related to advanced membranes, fouling mitigation, energy recovery, hybrid systems, and integration with renewable energy sources were applied. Data were processed using bibliometric metrics, co-authorship analysis, term co-occurrence, citation networks, and thematic clustering. Results: The analyzed period revealed significant growth in scientific output, highlighting the development of graphene membranes, polymer nanocomposites, biomimetic structures, and high-selectivity membranes, alongside advancements in state-of-the-art isobaric exchangers, advanced oxidation-based pre-treatments, and intelligent monitoring via IoT sensors. The strengthening of hybrid RO-FO and RO-EDR systems was also observed; in these systems, forward osmosis (FO) and electrodialysis reversal (EDR) are integrated with RO to reduce fouling, optimize energy consumption, and enhance efficiency in treating highly saline waters. Countries such as China, the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Spain led production and international cooperation efforts. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that the 2020–2025 period represents a time of technological acceleration—marked by the convergence of materials science, process engineering, and sustainability—thereby consolidating reverse osmosis as a key technology for addressing the global water crisis. The analysis further highlights the need for expanded research into brine disposal, large-scale energy efficiency, and environmental impacts.

Autores

  • Cleiton Rubens Formiga Barbosa

  • Cleiton Rubens Formiga Barbosa Júnior

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