BEIJING (Web Desk) - Chinese scientists have developed a new technology that converts seawater into safe drinking water without using electricity, with researchers saying the process could cost less than buying bottled mineral water.
Conventional seawater desalination requires large amounts of energy, limiting its use mainly to wealthier countries while relying heavily on fossil fuels that harm the environment.
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shenzhen University have developed a prototype device capable of operating for up to a year without electricity, using only sunlight as its energy source.
The breakthrough was made possible through a new photothermal material that links nanoparticles into a three-dimensional structure, significantly improving the efficiency of solar-powered desalination.
During laboratory testing, the material absorbed 90.2% of solar heat, while reducing the energy required for desalination by 45.7%.
In a small-scale trial, the system was used to produce freshwater for agricultural irrigation. The water supplied a five-square-metre farming area for several weeks without any electricity, relying solely on sunlight.
Researchers said the cost of producing freshwater through the system was lower than purchasing bottled drinking water. They added that the technology is expected to become even more cost-effective when deployed on a larger scale.