Latest industry research report on: Mining Metals Market. Desalination of brine refers to the removal of salt from sea water. In the process of desalination, concentrated brine is produced as a waste product. If this brine is returned to the sea water, it could adversely affect marine life. Recently, scientists have posited a course of action that would not only solve this problem, but would yield several benefits as well. Since valuable materials can be obtained through harvesting desalination brine, it could be viewed as a resource material rather than a waste product. The materials harvested from desalination brine include lithium, uranium, magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium elements.