ABSTRACT

This study demonstrated the generation of clean water from seawater collected at the beach coast in Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia, with carbonized rice husk coated melamine sponge as solar absorber by a solar still. Melamine sponge was utilized as a seawater transportation medium since its porous structure is excellent in channelling the seawater. Whereas carbonized rice husk was used as the photothermal conversion material for its efficient heat absorption due to its black colour and porous structure. Implementing air gap between the seawater body and solar absorber, and restricted water pathway assisted in localizing heat on the top surface of the solar absorber. Clean water was generated under direct solar radiation during the day at an open space with average solar intensity around 1.1∼1.2 kW/m² (slightly higher than 1 sun) for about 4 h. Efficiency of the solar absorber was calculated, while the quality of the generated clean water was observed in terms of salinity and pH value. Insulated solar still with carbon-coated sponge showed the highest efficiency at about 54.74%. Salinity of the collected clean water significantly reduced to consumable level which was approximately 55 ppm, and the pH value at about 6.73 where it was within the safe limit of the drinkable water pH.

摘要

这项研究展示了从马来西亚沙巴马来西亚大学海滩沿岸收集的海水生成清洁水，碳化稻壳涂层三聚氰胺海绵作为太阳能蒸馏器的太阳能吸收器。三聚氰胺海绵被用作海水传输介质，因为它的多孔结构在引导海水方面非常出色。而碳化稻壳由于其黑色和多孔结构而被用作光热转换材料，可以有效地吸收热量。在海水体和太阳能吸收器之间实施气隙，限制水路有助于将热量集中在太阳能吸收器的顶面上。白天在平均太阳强度约1.1∼1.2 kW/m ^{2的开放空间，在阳光直射下产生洁净水}（略高于 1 个太阳）约 4 小时。计算太阳能吸收器的效率，同时根据盐度和 pH 值观察生成的清洁水的质量。带碳涂层海绵的绝缘太阳能蒸馏器显示出最高效率，约为 54.74%。收集到的清洁水的盐度显着降低至可消耗水平，约为 55 ppm，pH 值约为 6.73，处于饮用水 pH 值的安全范围内。