Ionotropic gelation and density phase separation of high affinity salt ions and alginate gels have been investigated for the functional application of salt water desalination. Partial desalination has been demonstrated using ion chromatography, electron microscopy and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Despite being only a partial process, these findings show a less complex energy expenditure process compared with conventional desalination by the utilisation of alginate as a complete replacement for filter technology and pumping. This research has identified how this desalination process functions at a range of salinities between full strength seawater and freshwater and is simultaneously able to recycle alginate as a potential replacement sustainable chemical vector to filtration technology. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.