Desalination process

In a method for recovering water having a lower salt content in a form of a less saline water, from a starting saline water solution the improvement comprising:

• immersing a hydrogel polymer shape in a saline water solution at about room temperature for a time sufficient to absorb said less saline water within said polymer, said polymer being comprised of a polyol and a polyisocyanate, said polyol is comprised of a block copolymer of A and B, wherein in said block copolymer constituent A is from about 15 to 35% by weight and B is from about 55% to 75% by weight, and wherein said polyol of A and B has an equivalent weight from about 1000 to 2000, the polyol is polyfunctional with hydroxyl functionality of two to eight and the polyisocyanate has two isocyanate groups and the hydrogel polymer in a cured condition has a tensile strength of at least 3500 psi and wherein A in said block copolymer is of poly-ethylene oxide and B is of a poly-propylene oxide, poly-butylene oxide or poly tetra methylene ether;
• removing said hydrogel polymer shape from said starting saline water;
• and
• recovering by heating, said less saline water by heating said hydrogel polymer to from 30.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.