Issue 10, 2011

Solar evaporation enhancement using floating light-absorbing magnetic particles

Abstract

We have demonstrated a new strategy for enhancing solar evaporation by using floating light-absorbing materials. Floating Fe3O4/C magnetic particles with an average size of 500 nm were synthesized by carbonization of poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA) incorporated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The Fe3O4/C particles had a BET surface area of 429 m2 g−1, and a density of 1.44 g cm−3. Because of their hydrophobicity and a bulk packing density of 0.53 g cm−3, Fe3O4/C particles were floatable on water. Our results indicated that these Fe3O4/C particles enhanced the water evaporation rate by as much as a factor of 2.3 in the solar evaporation of 3.5% salt water. In addition, Fe3O4/C particles were easily recycled using a magnet, and stable after being recycled three times. Our work provides a low-cost and highly effective way for accelerating solar evaporation for industrial applications such as solar desalination, salt production, brine management and wastewater treatment.

Graphical abstract: Solar evaporation enhancement using floating light-absorbing magnetic particles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Apr 2011
Accepted
04 Jul 2011
First published
04 Aug 2011

Energy Environ. Sci., 2011,4, 4074-4078

Solar evaporation enhancement using floating light-absorbing magnetic particles

Y. Zeng, J. Yao, B. A. Horri, K. Wang, Y. Wu, D. Li and H. Wang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, 4, 4074 DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01532J

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