Issue 44, 2023

Stable polyethylene glycol/biochar composite as a cost-effective photothermal absorber for 24 hours of steam and electricity cogeneration

Abstract

Seawater desalination powered by solar energy is the most environmentally and economical solution in responding to the global water and energy crisis. However, solar desalination has been negatively impacted by intermittent sun radiation that alternates between day and night. In this study, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was recycled via the pyrolysis process to biochar as a cost-effective solar absorber. Besides, polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a phase change material was encapsulated in the abundant pore structure of biochar to store the thermal energy for 24 hours of continuous steam generation. The BDB/1.5 PEG evaporator exhibited an evaporation rate of 2.11 kg m−2 h−1 (98.1% efficiency) under 1 sun irradiation. Additionally, the BDB/1.5 PEG evaporator incorporated by the TEC1-12706 module for continuous steam and electricity generation with a power density of 320.41 mW m−2. Moreover, 10 continuous hours of evaporation were applied to the composite demonstrating outstanding stability. The composite exhibited high water purification efficiency through solar desalination due to the abundant functional groups on the biochar surface. Finally, the resulting low-cost and highly efficient PCM-based absorber can be used on a wide scale to produce fresh water and energy.

Graphical abstract: Stable polyethylene glycol/biochar composite as a cost-effective photothermal absorber for 24 hours of steam and electricity cogeneration

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Sep 2023
Accepted
18 Oct 2023
First published
24 Oct 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2023,13, 31077-31091

Stable polyethylene glycol/biochar composite as a cost-effective photothermal absorber for 24 hours of steam and electricity cogeneration

B. N. Basuny, D. A. Kospa, A. A. Ibrahim and A. Gebreil, RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 31077 DOI: 10.1039/D3RA06028D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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