{"id":119063,"date":"2023-12-23T23:03:52","date_gmt":"2023-12-24T04:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/?p=119063"},"modified":"2023-12-24T17:18:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-24T22:18:27","slug":"wastewater-treatment-can-we-harness-sunlight-to-generate-clean-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/wastewater-treatment-can-we-harness-sunlight-to-generate-clean-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Wastewater Treatment: Can we Harness Sunlight to Generate Clean Water?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brigitte Rodriguez, Publishing Associate: Researcher & Writer for Save The Water\u2122 | Decembe<\/span>r 23,<\/span> 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers have introduced a novel eco-friendly method for generating clean water known as solar evaporation technology. This innovative approach serves the dual purpose of <\/span>purifying and desalinating water.<\/span><\/a> Certainly, it stands out as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to address water purification needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wastewater Treatment Basics<\/span><\/h2>\n

Wastewater is water polluted by human activities. This includes domestic wastewater from private homes and businesses, as well as industrial wastewater from factories. Indeed, wastewater contains a variety of <\/span>pollutants, including organic matter, nutrients, pathogens, and heavy metals<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Solar Wastewater Treatment Method<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The interface solar vaporization device (SVD) is based on a hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposite (s-x-HCC). The creation of this evaporation device is based on a bilateral <\/span>structure<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1) An upper photothermal\/photocatalytic layer that allows an efficient transfer of light over water. This layer is also covered by two additional types of materials: amorphous carbon and SiO2.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) A lower layer that ensures floatability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This innovative structure enhances the efficiency of photocatalysis and prolongs the catalyst’s activity, leading to improved generation of <\/span>clean water<\/span><\/a>. The hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposite combines the strength and rigidity of inorganic materials with the flexibility and lightness of organic materials. This groundbreaking technology holds the potential to revolutionize water desalination. Additionally, CCMs-x are materials that blend the characteristics of both organic and inorganic materials. In the case of SVD, these materials are utilized to develop devices that capture sunlight, convert it into heat, and use it to evaporate water from salt solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advantages and Challenges of SVD<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are <\/span>advantages<\/span><\/a> to using this type of technology:<\/span><\/p>\n