Profiling Desalination startups: CETOS Water
The company is on a mission to redefine water treatment by turning complex wastewater from an environmental challenge into a critical solution for water scarcity and resource recovery. Through cutting-edge science and engineering, CETOS is unlocking new sources of water for use while recovering essential minerals, driving sustainable water management for industries and communities alike.
Disruptive Innovations
CETOS Water has developed a breakthrough in water treatment technology: Temperature Swing Solvent Extraction (TSSE). Unlike membranes which have upper limits to the salinity and contaminant profiles they can treat before the filters become clogged, and thermal evaporation, which is prohibitively energy intensive, TSSE utilizes advanced chemistry to selectively separate freshwater from the most contaminated feed streams using minimal energy and resources. By extracting freshwater from hypersaline brine, a space underserved by existing desalination technology, CETOS is both unlocking additional water resources while minimizing the byproducts from desalination.
Its liquid-liquid extraction technology works by adding a solvent which selectively absorbs freshwater, leaving behind a concentrated brine. The two streams naturally separate, like oil and water, eliminating the need for high pressure or extreme temperatures. Readily available waste heat or solar energy releases the freshwater from the solvent, allowing their solvent to be recycled in a continuous loop. The extracted water undergoes final treatment to meet specific quality standards, and the remaining brine can be used for resource recovery, such as lithium extraction, or safely disposed of.
This membrane-free, low-energy approach addresses critical gaps in existing desalination systems, particularly for industries like mining, hydraulic fracking, geothermal energy, concentrated brine management, and thermoelectric power.
Key Advantages
CETOS’ approach offers several advantages over traditional desalination methods.
At its core, their membrane-less technology can treat hypersaline and complex brines up to 10x saltier than seawater—an area beyond the reach of reverse osmosis. The thermally light approach relies on minimal temperature swings, which can be powered by industrial waste heat or solar energy, reducing both operational costs and carbon emissions. System builds avoid expensive components like specialty anti-corrosion materials, membranes, and high-pressure pumps, lowering both capital and maintenance expenses, as well as service disruptions. Adding to the ease of deployment is a modular design, facilitating offsite assembly, decreasing site disruption and allowing for scalable solutions tailored to various industries, including lithium production, thermoelectric power, mining, and geothermal sectors.
By focusing on producing fit-for-purpose water—essential for the largest consumers of freshwater in agriculture, energy, extractive and industrial processes—CETOS is alleviating pressure on freshwater resources and reserving them for human consumption. The ambitious goal is to treat one billion gallons of wastewater annually by 2026, significantly increasing the allocation of freshwater where it is needed most.
Driving Sustainability and Circularity
By extracting freshwater from currently untreatable feedwater sources, recovering valuable elements like lithium for renewable energy, and minimizing waste, CETOS is truly advancing a circular water economy.
For instance, its systems are capable of increasing the efficiency of mining critical minerals like lithium, which can be used in battery manufacturing, thus linking water management with the renewable energy sector. By turning industrial byproducts into usable materials and enabling the reuse of treated water, they’re helping industries move toward zero-waste processes.
In addition, TSSE’s low energy demands align with global efforts to transition to cleaner energy systems, positioning CETOS as a cornerstone of sustainable development in water treatment.
CEO Shannon Knee underscores CETOS Water’s transformative approach: “We’re rewriting the narrative around water treatment. Complex wastewater is no longer a problem to dispose of—it’s a solution to freshwater scarcity. As water scarcity continues to challenge communities and industries across the globe, it’s clear that we need innovative solutions that go beyond just producing freshwater. Technologies like TSSE hold the key to not only providing more water but also tackling the environmental challenges of brine disposal”
CETOS Water actively collaborates with governments, NGOs, and industries to implement pilot projects worldwide. These initiatives serve as proving grounds for the technology, demonstrating the potential to address water scarcity while reducing environmental impact. From brine concentrate management in the Middle East, to treating complex mine tailings that risk environmental harm, to unlocking inland brackish water desalination through zero liquid discharge, to increasing the efficiency of evaporative pond mining across Latin America, CETOS Water’s systems are transforming how desalination is both perceived and implemented.
