Double-layer cellulose hydrogel solar steam generation for high-efficiency desalination

Na Hu; Yongjian Xu; Zetan Liu; Min Liu; Xinyi Shao; Jian Wang

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116480

Double-layer cellulose hydrogel solar steam generation for high-efficiency desalination

Carbohydr Polym. 2020 Sep 1:243:116480. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116480. Epub 2020 May 25.

Authors

Na Hu¹, Yongjian Xu², Zetan Liu³, Min Liu³, Xinyi Shao³, Jian Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China. Electronic address: 799679357@qq.com.
² College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China; Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, China.
³ College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.
⁴ College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China; Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, China. Electronic address: zzwangjian@sust.edu.cn.

PMID: 32532401
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116480

Abstract

Solar steam generation is one of the most promising technologies for desalination. In order to further promote the development of solar steam generation, a double-layer cellulose hydrogel (DCH) was designed and used as solar steam generation for seawater desalination. Under one sun illumination intensity (1 kW·m^-2), the average evaporation rate and the steam evaporation efficiency reaches 1.582 kg·m^-2 h^-1 and 91.4 %, respectively. The durability test was performed to verify the long-time durability and antifouling property. Outdoor experiment was carried out to prove the high steam evaporation efficiency and desalination performance of DCH. This paves a way for the cellulose-based hydrogel as a biodegradable, low-cost and promising solar steam generation.

Keywords: Desalination; Double-layer cellulose hydrogel; High-efficiency evaporation; Solar steam generation.

MeSH terms

Cellulose*
Hydrogels*
Solar Energy*
Steam*
Water Purification*

Substances

Hydrogels
Steam
Cellulose