Compósito de Luffa cylindrica e óxido de cobre para a dessalinização da água do mar
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Data
2024-09-25
Autores
Flores Vasquez, Katherine Jisselle
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Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
Resumo
The increasing demand for water requires more efficient, economical and sustainable desalination processes. Solar desalination is a promising solution, but its low energy efficiency limits large-scale production. Research indicates that the addition of photothermal absorbing materials (PTMs) can improve this technology. This study aims to develop PTMs by combining loofah (Luffa cylindrica) and Cu2O, to increase the efficiency of conventional solar desalination. Thus, the composites were prepared by adsorbing copper ions on loofah (in natura or after alkaline treatment) followed by a heat treatment at 220ºC. Characterization was performed using OM, XRD, UV-Vis, SEM, ZPC, and thermographic imaging techniques. The XRD results revealed the presence of peaks related to the graphitic phases and Cu2O with cubic structure. OM and SEM/EDS data showed that the loofah structure remained unchanged after heat treatment and that Cu2O particles were uniformly distributed on the surface of the loofah fibers. The composites presented high light absorption in the UV-vis region and, consequently, higher surface temperature after exposure to sunlight. Solar evaporation tests using the composite without alkaline treatment, chosen because it presented the highest surface temperature when exposed to direct solar radiation, resulted in conversion efficiencies between 76.9% and 98.6% for distilled water and 88.1% for seawater. These results indicate the direct influence of the amount and exposed surface of the composite on efficiency. In addition, a distiller with a glass body was designed and built, which, when incorporating the absorbing material, increased the average desalination efficiency by 94%. Physicochemical analyses of the water obtained, such as pH, chloride quantification and electrical conductivity, confirmed the desalination of seawater. The composite showed better conversion efficiency and a significant increase in the productivity of solar distillation than other similar materials in the literature. Therefore, this work innovates by developing a material with high potential for solar desalination, contributing to mitigate the effects of water scarcity
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Tratamento de água , Absorvedor fototérmico , Armazenador de calor , Dessalinização da água , Energia solar , Energia térmica , Compósitos nanoestruturados , Materiais porosos , Water treatment , Photothermal absorber , Heat store