Use of photocatalysts in solar desalination

Abstract Solar desalination is gradually emerging as a successful renewable energy source of producing fresh water from seawater or brackish water by utilizing the greenhouse effect of solar energy. To enhance the overall efficiency of conventional basin type solar still, different semiconducting oxides like CuO, PbO2 and MnO2 have been utilized as photocatalysts. It is observed that metal oxides not only improve the efficiency of the process but the rate of production of desalinated water was also increased to a remarkable extent. The water quality for its various parameters like pH, TDS, etc. are analyzed (for raw and desalinated water).

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