Source water quality shaping different fouling scenarios in a full-scale desalination plant at the Red Sea

► Study of fouling profile of seawater desalination plant installed on a barge. ► Use of 13C NMR and FIB-STEM/EDX techniques for fouling analysis. ► Source water quality: A key factor in the membrane fouling phenomenon. ► Biofouling was found to be inhibited by alumino-silicate layer on RO membrane.