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<p>This narrative review examines the emerging field of synthetic mangrove systems for capillary-driven desalination, a biomimetic strategy inspired by the natural salt-exclusion mechanisms of mangrove roots. By integrating principles of plant hydraulics with advanced materials science, researchers have developed engineered systems that replicate key mangrove adaptations—including suberin-like barriers, aquaporin-mediated transport, and transpiration-driven negative pressure—to enable passive, energy-efficient freshwater production. Recent innovations in nanoporous membranes, biomimetic hydrogels, and artificial water channels have demonstrated the ability to generate capillary pressures sufficient to overcome osmotic pressures exceeding 400&#xa0;bar, facilitating the desalination of hypersaline and contaminated water sources without external pumping. This review synthesizes recent advancements, highlighting the design and performance of leaf-, xylem-, and root-inspired components, while critically addressing persistent challenges, such as cavitation, membrane fouling, durability, and scalability. This review uniquely bridges recent, often disparate advancements across materials science, fluid dynamics, and biomimicry into a cohesive framework for the design of next-generation desalination systems. Emerging solutions—including gas-entrapping microtextured surfaces, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces, and modular system architectures—are evaluated for their potential to enhance operational stability and real-world applicability. A novel set of six design rules is proposed, distilling biological principles into actionable engineering guidelines. The relative importance and design complexity of the three core functional components—roots, xylem, and leaves—are critically assessed, identifying the leaf as the fundamental engine and the root as the most design-intensive component.&#xa0;Although current implementations remain largely confined to laboratory settings, synthetic mangrove systems offer a promising pathway toward sustainable, decentralized water purification, particularly for off-grid and resource-limited environments. However, this promise must be tempered with realism: current operational lifespans are measured in hours to days, far short of the years required for industrial application, and substantial barriers in cavitation mitigation, scalability, and cost remain unresolved. By bridging biological insight with engineering innovation, this technology represents a transformative approach to next-generation desalination, aligning with global goals for water security and energy sustainability.</p>

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Synthetic Mangrove Systems for Capillary-Driven Desalination: A Narrative Review of Biomimetic Principles, Materials, and Applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月10日

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  • Alberto Boretti

摘要

This narrative review examines the emerging field of synthetic mangrove systems for capillary-driven desalination, a biomimetic strategy inspired by the natural salt-exclusion mechanisms of mangrove roots. By integrating principles of plant hydraulics with advanced materials science, researchers have developed engineered systems that replicate key mangrove adaptations—including suberin-like barriers, aquaporin-mediated transport, and transpiration-driven negative pressure—to enable passive, energy-efficient freshwater production. Recent innovations in nanoporous membranes, biomimetic hydrogels, and artificial water channels have demonstrated the ability to generate capillary pressures sufficient to overcome osmotic pressures exceeding 400 bar, facilitating the desalination of hypersaline and contaminated water sources without external pumping. This review synthesizes recent advancements, highlighting the design and performance of leaf-, xylem-, and root-inspired components, while critically addressing persistent challenges, such as cavitation, membrane fouling, durability, and scalability. This review uniquely bridges recent, often disparate advancements across materials science, fluid dynamics, and biomimicry into a cohesive framework for the design of next-generation desalination systems. Emerging solutions—including gas-entrapping microtextured surfaces, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces, and modular system architectures—are evaluated for their potential to enhance operational stability and real-world applicability. A novel set of six design rules is proposed, distilling biological principles into actionable engineering guidelines. The relative importance and design complexity of the three core functional components—roots, xylem, and leaves—are critically assessed, identifying the leaf as the fundamental engine and the root as the most design-intensive component. Although current implementations remain largely confined to laboratory settings, synthetic mangrove systems offer a promising pathway toward sustainable, decentralized water purification, particularly for off-grid and resource-limited environments. However, this promise must be tempered with realism: current operational lifespans are measured in hours to days, far short of the years required for industrial application, and substantial barriers in cavitation mitigation, scalability, and cost remain unresolved. By bridging biological insight with engineering innovation, this technology represents a transformative approach to next-generation desalination, aligning with global goals for water security and energy sustainability.