What is the primary thermodynamic factor dictating the minimum energy required for desalination?

The primary thermodynamic factor dictating the minimum energy required for desalination is the Gibbs free energy change associated with separating pure water from a saline solution. Gibbs free energy (G) represents the amount of energy available in a thermodynamic system to do useful work at a constant temperature and pressure. Desalination, by its nature, involves increasing the order of the system by concentrating salts in one stream (the brine) and producing pure water in another (the permeate). This increase in ord....