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Sustainable Biomass-Derived Photothermal Material for Solar-Driven Seawater Desalination and Wastewater Treatment

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  • Jing-Bin Wu

    (Yuncheng Campus, Heze University, Yuncheng 274700, China)

  • Ming-Xi Guo

    (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University, Heze 274015, China)

  • Hong-Li Fan

    (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University, Heze 274015, China)

  • Feng-Hai Li

    (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University, Heze 274015, China
    School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China)

  • Guo-Peng Han

    (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University, Heze 274015, China)

  • Qian-Qian Guo

    (College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Heze University, Heze 274015, China)

Abstract

The global freshwater scarcity crisis demands sustainable solutions aligned with circular economy principles. Solar-driven steam generation (SSG) has emerged as a promising approach to obtain freshwater from seawater or wastewater using solar energy. However, its widespread application relies on the development of energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and high-performance photothermal conversion materials. Herein, we present a sustainable strategy for converting autumn-fallen plane tree leaves into a photothermal material (AC-800) via KOH activation at 800 °C. AC-800 exhibits 91% broadband absorption (250–2500 nm). A light-absorbing layer fabricated by vacuum filtration was used for SSG tests. Under 1 sun irradiation, AC-800 achieves an evaporation rate of 1.5441 kg·m −2 ·h −1 with 87.1% solar-to-vapor efficiency and a surface temperature of 48.3 °C. Ten repetitive cycles of experiments using AC-800 has demonstrated the cycling stability of SSG. Desalinated water meets World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards, and organic dye removal from wastewater in distilled water reaches ~100%. This low-cost, eco-friendly strategy advances sustainable SSG, with potential in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment to support circular economy objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing-Bin Wu & Ming-Xi Guo & Hong-Li Fan & Feng-Hai Li & Guo-Peng Han & Qian-Qian Guo, 2025. "Sustainable Biomass-Derived Photothermal Material for Solar-Driven Seawater Desalination and Wastewater Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8513-:d:1755301
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    1. Höök, Mikael & Tang, Xu, 2013. "Depletion of fossil fuels and anthropogenic climate change—A review," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 797-809.
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