MIT Engineer’s Team Craft Solar Desalination, Pioneering a Sustainable, Affordable Freshwater Future!

MIT engineers and Chinese collaborators unveil a solar-powered desalination device, inspired by oceanic thermohaline circulation.

[{"selector":"#anim-47edbf95-0f30-4771-8a86-65cb72981213","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9cf3e0af-5ec8-4a02-9769-518ac66a18df [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-61.19025700868522%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source-Google

The innovative system utilizes natural sunlight to heat and evaporate saltwater, collecting the condensed vapor as drinkable water.

[{"selector":"#anim-001da31f-6d58-4055-a592-45b743f3127b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-37.76516531201008%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36e2f5cf-cc9f-4857-9355-1c219e520bc4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

Lenan Zhang from MIT’s Device Research Laboratory highlights the potential for sunlight-produced water to be cheaper than tap water.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e8933bd-6576-4e0a-9d46-c67564e2a422 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.90698516518526%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e65b61a-2290-4903-92f3-ccd9808162d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

The design mimics the ocean’s thermohaline convection, preventing salt accumulation and system clogging.

[{"selector":"#anim-d88d3832-20bf-4f3c-9fb6-98d026af37a7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.040441310781988%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b09353f1-b8ae-4c83-a617-c6e72bf1031f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

A single stage of the design, resembling a thin box, effectively absorbs solar heat, inducing water evaporation and condensation.

[{"selector":"#anim-48537ffb-a709-482d-973e-e230448a205b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-60.11029373861273%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c4762e8-bf7a-421b-b864-cb8e1f8d7448","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

The system, if scaled up, could produce 4 to 6 liters of drinking water per hour, outperforming current tap water production costs.

[{"selector":"#anim-b76a9321-de8b-4d65-9ecf-0c14fc5e478f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-56.38212286170117%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f47efe80-52b4-4095-b5f6-101e3f26fdf0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

The innovative design promises a high water-production rate and high salt rejection, ensuring reliable and extended operation.

[{"selector":"#anim-d964acb1-84d8-4c82-83ed-1d8329c1450a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-47.27547243822658%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14f029de-a0e0-44c7-b591-df83fe44fc98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

The team envisions the device meeting the daily water requirements of small families and off-grid coastal communities.

[{"selector":"#anim-6524d488-bb2d-4df3-a63b-42d04cf54a59 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235064224240656%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da28a4e8-74c5-4077-8bc3-1b5dd4983280","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google

Guihua Yu from the University of Texas acknowledges the innovative approach as a potential solution for regions with high-salinity water.

[{"selector":"#anim-0cc40b0d-326c-400f-8670-c3922846cb3c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.47977938496542%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d3ba882-43ee-4074-8d6a-542ce92bf471","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source-Google