Carbon nanotube (CNT) enhanced direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is presented for water desalination. We investigated the immobilization of CNTs on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. The presence of CNTs on the hydrophobic membrane favorably altered the water-membrane interactions to promote water vapor transport while preventing salt water penetration into the membrane pores. For a salt concentration of 34,000 mg l(-1) and at 70 degrees C, the CNT incorporation led to a 54% enhancement in permeate flux, which was as high as 69 kg/m(2) h. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.