Work

Engineering wood with synergistic salt mitigation and microbial suppression for efficient and durable solar desalination

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Interfacial solar evaporation offers an energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional desalination and wastewater treatment technologies. Ensuring long-term operational stability necessitates effective thermal management, robust salt rejection capabilities, and reliable biofouling resistance. Herein, we develop a multifunctional wood-derived solar absorber via p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (p-TsOH)-catalyzed hydrothermal carbonization of natural forest wood. This dual-phase process produces light-trapping carbon microspheres while simultaneously restructuring the hierarchical microarchitecture. The engineered absorber achieves exceptional performance metrics—an evaporation rate of 1.44 kg m −2 h −1 and a solar-thermal conversion efficiency of 92% under 1 sun illumination in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution—attributed to optimized thermal localization through anisotropic heat confinement. Notably, the carbonized matrix maintains an interconnected porous network with enhanced hydrophilicity, establishing efficient hydraulic pathways that facilitate rapid salt ion diffusion from the evaporation interface, thereby preventing salt crystallization. Furthermore, in situ generated phenolic compounds and furfural derivatives impart intrinsic antibacterial properties by inhibiting microbial ATP synthesis and compromising membrane integrity, thereby ensuring sustained operational stability. This integrated approach demonstrates that p-TsOH-delignified wood absorbers present a scalable platform for high-performance desalination, combining efficient solar utilization, autonomous salt rejection, and microbial suppression within a carbon-negative material system, advancing sustainable water purification technologies.

Source: Results in Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.108797

Authors: Yuying Zhao, Wenpeng Hong, Haoran Li, Xianhan Peng, Jingrui Lan

Institutions: Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin University of Chemical Technology

Language: English

Topic: Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,940