Biomass-based materials for solar-powered seawater evaporation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Clean water is essential for human survival, and water scarcity is a growing global concern.
• Solar-powered seawater desalination (SSD) presents a sustainable method to address water scarcity using abundant solar energy.
• Biomass-based materials are emerging as cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives for solar seawater evaporation due to their natural structures and availability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse range of biomass-based materials used in solar-powered seawater evaporation.
• To explore various forms of biomass-based solar seawater evaporators (BSSE), including nanofluids, membranes, gels, and composite structures.
• To identify and discuss key strategies for enhancing the performance of BSSE.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of biomass-based materials for solar seawater desalination.
• Categorization of biomass materials (angiosperms, algae, fungi, animal, atypical) and their forms (nanofluid, membrane, gels, composites).
• Analysis of performance enhancement approaches for BSSE, focusing on optical absorption, thermal management, water supply, salt resistance, and steam recovery.

Main Results:

• Biomass-based materials exhibit excellent properties for solar seawater evaporation, including ease of preparation and low cost.
• Various forms of BSSE have been developed, demonstrating diverse structural applications.
• Key strategies for improving BSSE efficiency include optimizing optical properties, thermal management, water delivery, salt management, and steam condensation.

Conclusions:

• Biomass-based materials hold significant promise for sustainable and efficient solar-powered seawater desalination.
• Further research and development are needed to overcome challenges and fully realize the potential of BSSE.
• Optimizing BSSE designs and operational strategies can lead to scalable solutions for global water security.