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Solar evaporation enhancement using floating light-absorbing magnetic particles
Journal article   Peer reviewed

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 & Environmental Science, Vol.4(10), pp.4074-4078
2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C1EE01532J
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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.

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