Halophiles and their adaptations: A comprehensive review on recent progress and prospects in biodesalination applications

Abstract

Worldwide climate change, rising population, and industrialization have raised the global demand for freshwater. Desalinating brackish water has become a sustainable technology for drinking and agriculture to overcome global water scarcity. Thriving biodesalination technology has become more attractive and eco‐friendly than the present physicochemical desalination methods, which are expensive and energy‐intensive. Researchers are exploring the bioutilization of nature's potential for desalination using halophiles like haloarchaea, halobacteria, halophytic algae, and plants. Biomimetic desalination membranes have been developed, inspired by the desalination mechanism in animals. This comprehensive review explores recent advancements and potential applications of halophiles in biodesalination to exploit them effectively. It provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with harnessing halophiles for the removal of salts from brackish and seawater sources. This review also focuses on insights into biomolecules produced by the halophilic microorganisms and halophytes in the desalination process. Understanding the mechanism of action of these biomolecules will edify the effective unexplored research areas in biomimicry and bioutilization to overcome the existing limitations in water treatment.