The possibility of obtaining pure water by membrane distillation, from
brines rejected in other water production operations has been conside
red. Membrane distillation experiments have been carried out by using
two PTFE porous hydrophobic membranes and sodium chloride aqueous solu
tions, within a wide range of solute concentrations. The influence of
stirring rate, mean temperature and salt concentration on the fluxes h
as been estimated. The results suggest that a cooperation of membrane
distillation and solar distillation techniques may be fruitful.