article · Scientific African
This research applies the Taguchi experimental design method to optimise potassium extraction from discontinuous evaporation brine. The process evaluated the effects of evaporation temperature, initial potassium ion concentration, and evaporation time. Evaporation temperature emerged as the dominant factor, responsible for approximately 72.5 percent of the variation in potassium extraction efficiency, while initial concentration contributed 20.2 percent and evaporation time contributed 5.6 percent. A predictive linear regression model achieved an R-squared value above 98 percent, demonstrating that increases in all three parameters positively influence extraction within the tested ranges. The highest extraction efficiency was achieved at 90 degrees Celsius, an initial potassium concentration of 40 grams per litre, and an evaporation duration of six hours. These findings support the valorisation of desalination brine and provide a foundation for future solar-assisted evaporation setups.
Desalination creates highly concentrated waste brine that poses environmental disposal challenges. Recovering potassium from this brine turns an industrial waste product into a valuable mineral resource. Identifying the precise temperatures and timings needed for efficient extraction provides an evidence-based route towards cleaner industrial desalination and circular resource use.
This work enables mineral recovery from desalination waste, which is relevant to industrial desalination plants and chemical recovery facilities seeking secondary revenue streams. Given that the parameters were derived via laboratory-scale experimental design and regression modelling, the process represents early-stage research. Real-world application will require pilot testing and further development of the proposed solar-assisted evaporation systems.
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This study applies the Taguchi design of experiments (DOE) in optimizing the process of potassium extraction in discontinuous evaporation brine, particularly with regard to the evaporation temperature, initial K⁺ concentration, and evaporation time, which are the major factors in the process. An orthogonal array of L9 was used to reduce the number of experiments while maintaining statistical efficiency . The analysis of variance showed that evaporation temperature is the most significant factor, contributing approximately 72.5% of the total variation in Potassium Extraction Efficiency (PEE), followed by initial K⁺ concentration, which contributed 20.2%, and evaporation time, which contributed 5.6%. A predictive linear regression model was developed, and the results showed that all investigated factors positively influenced PEE within the studied experimental range, as confirmed by the R² value, which was greater than 98%. The optimal conditions were established to achieve the maximum PEE yield, and the results were: 90°C, 40 g/L of initial K⁺ concentration, and 6 hours of evaporation time. The optimized operating conditions established in this study provide a basis for future investigations on the integration of solar-assisted evaporation systems. These findings contribute to the valorization of desalination brine through improved potassium recovery.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03605
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