Which treatment process is historically linked to water desalination?

The treatment process that is historically linked to water desalination is membrane filtration. This process employs a semi-permeable membrane to separate salts and other impurities from water, making it a key technology in desalination. Membrane filtration techniques, such as reverse osmosis, have gained widespread application in converting seawater into freshwater due to their efficiency in removing dissolved solids.

While volatile organic chemicals are important in water treatment, they pertain more to the removal of harmful organic pollutants rather than the desalination process itself. Biological treatment focuses on breaking down organic matter using microorganisms, which is not directly related to the salt removal needed in desalination. Chemical precipitation involves adding chemicals to remove contaminants, usually from wastewater, and is not typically associated with removing salts from water.

Understanding the role of membrane technology is crucial in the context of desalination, especially as the demand for freshwater continues to rise globally.