An Integrated Multi-Effect Distillation and Adsorption
Desalination-Biomass Pyrolysis Approach for Sustainable Water Supply
Students: Jayson GARCIA 1, Naoumi HASUMI 2, Zhi Pin LAW 3, Jia Ying LIN 4, Michael
John PATRON 1, Ella PONCARDAS 5, Kernel RAQUEL 5, Giancarlo SANGLAY 1,*Advisors: Keat Teong LEE 6, Zih-Ee LIN 2, Lawrence LIMJUCO 1, Mitsuo YAMAMOTO 71

University of the Philippines Diliman, 2 Waseda University, 3 Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 4 Taipei
Medical University, 5 University of the Philippines Visayas, 6 Universiti Sains Malaysia, 7 University ofTokyo*E-mail: gdsanglay@up.edu.phAbstract: The polycrisis* has disrupted the energy-food-water nexus in the Asia-Pacificregion and effectuates new stresses on the already derailed SDG achievement in the region[1]. With this, innovation** can offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions to meet energy,
food, and water needs and ensure an equitable distribution especially to marginalized andvulnerable people in the region [2]. For instance, in the Philippines, Zamboanga del Norte is
the top 3 province with the least access to basic service-level drinking water (BSLDW) [3].
The town of Jose Dalman, albeit with an inaccessibility to BSLDW [4], has abundant coconut
production with ~2,283 tons/month harvested in 2022 [5] yielding 1,392 tons/month ofresidue. This can be valorized as a renewable energy source for a novel, less energy-intensive
desalination system to address the energy and BSLDW insecurity while not affecting the foodvalue of coconut. Thus, a Multi-Effect Distillation and Adsorption Desalination (MEDAD)
system interfaced with a biomass pyrolysis system is proposed (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. The conceptual framework of the proposed project divided into work packages (WP).
In this work, technological assessment will be done by matching the energy generation fromthe pyrolysis products vis-a-vis the MEDAD energy requirements; while economicalassessment will be done by levelized cost analyses. The facility location will be optimized byminimizing its distance to farms, the sea, and settlements. The number of distillation units
will also be optimized based on system efficiency. The heat from pyrolysis products, bio-oiland syngas vapors will be used to evaporate feed water to generate steam (80 °C) fordesalination. The combustion of the vapors will supply the MEDAD with electricity. Finally,
the fresh water output will be calculated. Thus, this study demonstrates the process andsystem design of an integrated MEDAD-biomass pyrolysis system to supply clean drinking
water in rural locations with poor access to BSLDW.

Keywords: Resilient Water Solution, Water Scarcity, Biomass Renewable Energy;
Multi-Effect Distillation and Adsorption Desalination, Thermal Desalination, Slow Pyrolysis,
Coconut,
Related SDG Goals: SDG6, SDG7, SGD 3, SGD 9, SGD 11, SGD 12, SGD 13
References:* Polycrisis: refers to the current overarching global economic and social crisis.1 It iscomprised of multiple simultaneous crises whose impacts compound each other at the societal
and global level. The current “polycrisis” encompasses the longstanding but increasingly
severe climate change crisis, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impacts of theRussian invasion of Ukraine.
[1] Lawrence, M.,et al., “What is a global polycrisis?”. Cascade Institute, Technical Paper#2022-4, (September 2022); United Nations Development Programme, “RBAP Foresight
Brief: Polycrisis and Long-term Thinking”, (2022).
** Innovation: includes new technologies, business models, policy frameworks, and socialadvances[2] United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, “Delivering on
the sustainable development goals through solutions at the energy, food and finance nexus”(March 27, 2023)[3] Philippine Statistics Authority, “2020 and 2022 Annual Poverty Indicators Surveys”[4] Maratas, Ed Neil, “Clustering Poverty Incidence Based on Social Indicators” (January 4,2021) http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3794973[5] Philippine Coconut Authority Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Office “Copra
Production/Trend” (2022)