Natural fibers for enhanced efficiency and sustainability in solar desalination: a review.

Egiza, Mohamed; Diab, Mohamed Ragab; Faisal, Nadimul; Elsheikh, Ammar H.

Abstract

Global water scarcity, accelerated by inefficient wastewater treatment and the high cost of conventional desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis, necessitates sustainable solutions. Solar stills, harnessing solar energy, offer a promising low-cost approach for treating saline and wastewater particularly in remote and arid regions. However, traditional stills often suffer from low thermal efficiency (around 30 ∼ 40%) and environmental concerns due to the utilization of conventional materials such as phase change materials. This review investigates the potential of natural fibers as a sustainable enhancement for solar still performance. Natural fibers, derived from readily available plant and animal sources, provide a low-cost, biodegradable, and versatile alternative. Their exceptional water absorption (up to 234%) and thermal properties enable integration as insulation, absorbers, wicks, and structural components within solar stills. Solar stills demonstrate significant improvements in distillate production with natural fibers. For instance, black walnut hulls boosted freshwater productivity by 123.5% (4.07 L/m2/day), while pond and sisal fiber combinations achieved a 126.67% increase (5.78 L/m2/day). Compared to conventional stills, some fiber integrations resulted in substantial freshwater productivity increases: sawdust and rice straw (62%), black luffa (77.62%), sisal fiber (102.7%), cotton cloth (53.12%), palm fiber (44.50%), Spirulina algae (30.24%), and black dyed flax fibers (39.6%). Exergy analysis reveals a 15% efficiency enhancement through improved heat transfer and reduced exergy destruction. This, coupled with the material's low environmental impact, positions natural fibers as a promising avenue for sustainable desalination. SWOT analysis identifies cost-effectiveness, availability, and biodegradability as strengths, while durability and consistency pose challenges. Despite these, the growing water crisis necessitates innovative solutions. Future research should focus on optimizing fiber combinations, exploring biodegradable alternatives, and conducting comprehensive life cycle assessments to maximize their impact.

Citation

EGIZA, M., DIAB, M.R., FAISAL, N. and ELSHEIKH, A.H. 2024. Natural fibers for enhanced efficiency and sustainability in solar desalination: a review. Solar energy [online], 282, article number 112963. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112963

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 18, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 9, 2024
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 17, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 10, 2025
• Journal: Solar energy
• Print ISSN: 0038-092X
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-1257
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 282
• Article Number: 112963
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112963
• Keywords: Sustainable desalination; Natural fiber; Solar still; Water scarcity mitigation; Biodegradable materials; Low-cost water production
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2519049