Equipment to filter dirty water into drinking water by sunlight

Test results show that the water after filtering meets the drinking water standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Researchers at the University of Texas, USA are developing equipment capable of producing clean drinking water from most polluted water or seawater , even from the Dead Sea. A solar-powered system combined with hydrogel- absorbing light to purify water by distillation, Science Alert said today.

Water distillation, desalination is widely used in fresh water production. However, existing distillation technologies such as multi-stage distillation and multi-effects distillation are costly, because they consume a lot of energy and require modern infrastructure.

New technology uses only solar energy to evaporate water and remove impurities.

According to Fei Zhao, a member of the research team, the technology uses only solar energy to evaporate water and remove impurities. This method is simpler and more cost effective. "Solar energy is the most potent and sustainable source of heat, and this is a great solution for distillation and reduction ," Zhao said.

Solar water filters are made from hydrogel material with light absorbing properties. The nanostructure of the hydrogel helps make more use of the sun's energy without the use of optical devices that focus the light, thereby accelerating the evaporation. Steam is then treated, condensed into clean water and placed in a container.

The team tested the water samples from the Dead Sea with salinity of about 34% (10 times the salinity of conventional seawater). Water after filtration meets the drinking water standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It is estimated that about one-ninth of the world's population now lives in conditions where there are no safe drinking water sources near their homes. The solar energy filter opens up the opportunity to save tens of thousands of people each year as a result of pollutant use.

The study was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Scientists say that more time is needed to be able to apply new technology to life.