Repurposing face mask waste to construct floating photothermal evaporator for autonomous solar ocean farming
Shuai Guo,
Yaoxin Zhang,
Hao Qu,
Meng Li,
Songlin Zhang,
Jiachen Yang,
Xueping Zhang,
Swee Ching Tan
Affiliations
Shuai Guo
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Yaoxin Zhang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Hao Qu
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Meng Li
MOE Key Laboratory of Low‐Grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, CQU‐NUS Renewable Energy Materials & Devices Joint Laboratory, School of Energy & Power Engineering Chongqing University Chongqing China
Songlin Zhang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Jiachen Yang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Xueping Zhang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Swee Ching Tan
Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
Abstract Plastic waste caused by the extensive usage of face masks during COVID‐19 pandemic has become a severe threat to natural environment and ecosystem. Herein, an eco‐friendly approach to repurpose face mask waste for clean water production via solar thermal evaporation is proposed. By taking advantage of its interwind structure, face mask holds the promise to be an ideal candidate material for constructing photothermal evaporator. In‐situ surface modifications are performed successively with polyvinyl alcohol and polypyrrole to improve its wettability and solar absorption (97%). The obtained face mask‐based evaporator achieves significantly enhanced solar efficiency (91.5%) and long‐term salt‐rejection stability. The harvested clean water befits plant growing to enable farming on sea surface. A floating photothermal evaporation prototype is then developed to demonstrate autonomous solar ocean farming, with plants successfully cultivated over time. As such, the proposed strategy provides a promising solution towards ecological sustainability by tapping multiple benefits.
