Research profile / Publications

Publications and research outputs

Journal articles, a conference extended abstract, an open-access book chapter, a forthcoming article and a doctoral thesis.

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For broader context, see the research topic pages, which connect these publications to problem areas such as brine mineral recovery, membrane distillation, AI-enabled water-energy systems, thermofluids and advanced materials.

Thermofluids, CFD and microgravity · Extended conference abstract

Droplet Dynamics in Small-Scale Containers: The Impact of Buoyancy and Thermocapillary Forces

Yousuf Alhendal; Mohammad K. Alhamli; Hussain Al-Sairfi · MCM 2026 · Paper HTFF 110 · DOI: 10.11159/htff26.110

A numerical study of an FC-75 droplet in silicone oil examines how container size changes the competition between thermocapillary and buoyancy forces. The extended abstract reports Volume-of-Fluid simulations in a differentially heated cylindrical container, with thermocapillary-dominated motion in smaller configurations and stronger buoyancy influence as the container becomes larger.

Conference abstract

AI-enabled renewable energy and water-energy systems

An Offline Digital-Twin-Assisted Decision-Support Framework for Dynamic RO Under Kuwait Solar-Availability Conditions

Fajer M. Alelaj; Mohammed A. Bou-Rabee; Mustafa Fadel; Shafqat Aziz; Adil Aslam Mir; Abdulrahman Alharbi; Hussain Al-Sairfi · Membranes · 23 August 2026 · DOI: 10.3390/membranes16090281

This offline framework combines dynamic RO experimental data from NREL with Kuwait solar context from NASA POWER. Machine-learning models predict permeate flow and estimate specific energy consumption, while an operating-point ranking layer supports decisions. It is an offline process-analysis tool; conductivity prediction remains limited.

Published

Membrane-module hydrodynamics and CFD

Comparative Numerical Evaluation of Feed-Spacer Geometries in Reverse Osmosis Modules for Enhanced Water Treatment Sustainability

Hussain Al-Sairfi; Fajer M. Alelaj; Mohammad K. Alhamli; Mustafa Fadel; Hawraa Sabti · Membranes · 10 August 2026 · DOI: 10.3390/membranes16080265

This CFD study compares grid, hexagonal and sinusoidal RO feed spacers in ANSYS Fluent. It examines concentration polarization, wall shear and hydraulic losses. The hexagonal design offers the strongest modeled mass-transfer versus pressure-loss balance; advanced geometries still require experimental validation.

Published

Brine chemistry, scaling control and mineral recovery

Modeling the Influence of Ionic Strength on Mineral Solubility in Concentrated Brine Solutions

Hussain Al-Sairfi; M. A. Salman; Y. Al-Foudari; M. Ahmed · Processes · 4 January 2026 · DOI: 10.3390/pr14010172

This study measures how ionic strength changes the solubility of calcium sulfate and magnesium hydroxide in concentrated brines collected from Kuwait desalination facilities. It identifies non-ideal behavior that can be used to time precipitation, limit scaling and improve mineral-recovery process design.

Published

Brine chemistry, scaling control and mineral recovery

Mineral Extraction from Mixed Brine Solutions

M. A. Salman; M. Ahmed; Hussain Al-Sairfi; Y. Al-Foudari · Separations · 1 October 2025 · DOI: 10.3390/separations12100266

This paper evaluates sulfate-mineral recovery when high-salinity brines are mixed with seawater. A practical model predicts saturation index, precipitation yield and induction time for barite, celestite and calcium-sulfate phases under different mixing and operating conditions.

Published

Desalination membranes and advanced materials

Membrane Materials for Desalination

Hussain Al-Sairfi; Maha Atallah; Fajer Alelaj; Yousuf Alhendal; Mansour Ahmed · Desalination Frontiers – Innovations and Progress in Water Purification Technologies [Online First] · 3 February 2026 · DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.1014282

This open-access chapter reviews the evolution of desalination membrane materials, from cellulose acetate and polyamide thin-film composites to graphene oxide, aquaporin-based membranes and metal-organic frameworks. It compares performance, durability, chlorine resistance, fouling behavior, scalability and sustainability.

Published online first

Membrane distillation for seawater and produced water

Membrane distillation of saline feeds and produced water: A comparative study of an air-gap and vacuum-driven modules

Hussain Al-Sairfi; M. Z. A. Koshuriyan; Mansour Ahmed · Desalination and Water Treatment · 13 March 2024 · DOI: 10.1016/j.dwt.2024.100145

This comparative experimental study evaluates air-gap membrane distillation and vacuum membrane distillation for saline feeds, Arabian Gulf seawater and oilfield-produced water. It examines temperature, concentration, recirculation flow, air-gap depth and vacuum-space depth as determinants of permeate flux and salt rejection.

Published

Membrane distillation for seawater and produced water

Performance feasibility study of direct contact membrane distillation systems in the treatment of seawater and oilfield-produced brine: the effect of hot- and cold-channel depth

Hussain Al-Sairfi; M. Z. A. Koshuriyan; Mansour Ahmed · Desalination and Water Treatment · November 2023 · DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2023.29942

This laboratory study assesses direct-contact membrane distillation for Arabian Gulf seawater and oilfield-produced brine using polypropylene and PVDF membranes. It evaluates channel depth, temperature, flow rate and feed concentration in relation to permeate flux and salt rejection.

Published

Membrane-module hydrodynamics and CFD

Hydrodynamic Enhancement of Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Using a Corrugated Feed Channel: A Numerical Study

Fajer M. Alelaj; Mansour Ahmed; Hussain Al-Sairfi; Garudachari Bhadrachari; Shimaa Zahran; Mohamed R. Elmarghany · Nature Environment and Pollution Technology · Forthcoming in December 2026

This numerical study models a direct-contact membrane-distillation channel fitted with rectangular corrugations. It evaluates how rib height, breadth and pitch alter hydrodynamic mixing, temperature polarization, pressure drop and permeate flux, identifying a practical trade-off between mass-transfer enhancement and hydraulic loss.

Forthcoming – December 2026 issue

AI-enabled renewable energy and water-energy systems

Adaptive Fuzzy Energy Management of Wind-Battery Systems With Flexible Desalination Load

Mustafa Fadel; Fajer M. Alelaj; Hussain Al-Sairfi; Mansour Ahmed · Energy Science & Engineering · 26 May 2026 · DOI: 10.1002/ese3.70570

This study develops an adaptive fuzzy energy-management system for a wind-turbine and battery system supplying a flexible reverse-osmosis desalination load. The controller coordinates wind power, battery state of charge and water production while explicitly reducing battery cycling and degradation.

Published online

AI-enabled renewable energy and water-energy systems

Quantifying the Economic Loss and Operational Implications of Air Pollution on Grid-Connected PV Systems in the Arabian Peninsula: A Machine Learning-Based Analysis

Mohammed A. Bou-Rabee; Fajer M. Alelaj; Hussain Al-Sairfi · IEEE Access · 30 December 2025 · DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3649764

This IEEE Access study uses a validated Random Forest model and counterfactual clean-air scenarios to estimate energy and financial losses caused by air pollution and module soiling in grid-connected photovoltaic systems across the Arabian Peninsula. It also proposes a predictive cleaning schedule for operation and maintenance planning.

Published

Thermofluids, CFD and microgravity

Thermocapillary Droplet Flow in Small-scale Containers: the Effect of Gravity

Mohammad K. Alhamli; Yousuf Alhendal; Hussain Al-Sairfi · Microgravity Science and Technology · 12 June 2026 · DOI: 10.1007/s12217-026-10253-4

This numerical investigation tracks an FC-75 droplet suspended in silicone oil inside differentially heated cylindrical containers. Volume-of-Fluid simulations compare zero gravity, normal gravity and combined thermocapillary–buoyancy forcing and derive a practical criterion for the droplet size at which the two forces nearly balance.

Published

Advanced materials and rapid solidification

Achieving single solid solution in equimolar AlCrCuFeNi via rapid solidification

Ahmed Nassar; Hussain Al-Sairfi; Robert Cochrane; Mehmet Remzi Abul; Liam Teggin; Osama Al-Jenabi; Enrique Myro; Andrew Mullis · Materials Today Communications · 20 February 2026 · DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2026.114897

This study uses a 6.5-m drop-tube facility to investigate the effect of cooling rate on equimolar AlCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloy. Rapid solidification suppresses phase complexity, produces a single B2 structure above approximately 10² K/s and increases microhardness as cooling rate rises.

Published

Membrane distillation for seawater and produced water

Assessment of Membrane Distillation Modules for Seawater Desalination and Oilfield-Produced Water Treatment Applications

Hussain Al-Sairfi · University of Strathclyde doctoral thesis · PhD awarded in 2025

This doctoral thesis experimentally evaluates direct-contact, air-gap and vacuum membrane-distillation modules for seawater, synthetic saline feeds and oilfield-produced water. It examines membrane material, temperature, salinity, flow rate and channel or gap dimensions to establish performance and design guidance under Kuwait-relevant conditions.

Awarded and deposited