breakthrough. Using sun to get pure water, cheap

Researchers have developed a solar-powered purifier that could provide a highly efficient and inexpensive way to turn contaminated water into potable water for personal use.

The device could help address global drinking water shortages, especially in developing areas and regions affected by natural disasters, researchers said.

“Using extremely low-cost materials, we have been able to create a system that makes near maximum use of the solar energy during evaporation. At the same time, we are minimising the amount of heat loss during this process,” said lead researcher Qiaoqiang Gan, associate professor at University at Buffalo (UB) in the US.

The team built a small-scale solar still. The device, which they call a “solar vapour generator,” cleans or desalinates water by using the heat converted from sunlight.

The sun evaporates the water. During this process, salt, bacteria or other unwanted elements are left behind as the liquid moves into a gaseous state.

The water vapour then cools and returns to a liquid state, where it is collected in a separate container without the salt or contaminants.

“People lacking adequate drinking water have employed solar stills for years, however, these devices are inefficient,” said Haomin Song, PhD candidate at UB.

“Many devices lose valuable heat energy due to heating the bulk liquid during the evaporation process. Systems that require optical concentrators, such as mirrors and lenses, to concentrate the sunlight are costly,” Song said.

The team addressed these issues by creating a solar still about the size of mini—refrigerator. It is made of expanded polystyrene foam and porous paper coated in carbon black.

Like a napkin, the paper absorbs water, while the carbon black absorbs sunlight and transforms the solar energy into heat used during evaporation.

The solar still coverts water to vapour very efficiently.

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