Chinese breakthrough could make desalinated seawater cheaper than bottled water

[usonian]

https://www.the-independent.com/tech/seawater-desalination-breakthrough-china-cheap-b3005687.html

Now, scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new three-dimensional (3D) structure that significantly improves the efficiency of this technology to convert seawater to drinking water.

>The structure contains tightly linked polymer chains with hollow shelled structures that provide a record evaporation 8.5 times higher than rates previously reported for the technology.

This unique structure maximises sunlight capture and decreases the energy consumption for evaporation by nearly 50 per cent, scientists say.

This structure exhibits 90.2 per cent broadband solar absorption and reduces the energy consumption of evaporation by 45.7 per cent,” scientists wrote in the study published in the journal Advanced Materials.

Schematic:




Small scale test, 20l (5.3 gal) per day. Scalable? That's the plan.

Also at:

https://thewaterdigest.com/chinese-tech-makes-desalinating-seawater-cheaper-than-producing-bottled-water/

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/other/chinese-tech-makes-desalinated-seawater-cheaper-than-bottled-water/ar-AA26Snzl

[David__77]

1. Solving the problem of power solves the problem of water, and so much more.

I’m hopeful that technological breakthroughs will have positive impacts for peaceful development.

[eggplant]

2. it's still not drinkable. desalinized is distilled.

well, it is, but it lacks all of the naturally occurring minerals in freshwater, particularly salts. So drinking it in large enough quantities will throw off your electrolytes.

that said, I'll take it over saltwater.