Full bagasse bio-waste derived 3D photothermal aerogels for high efficient solar steam generation

Abstract

Nowadays, freshwater shortage, energy crisis and environmental pollution are the three major threats to human beings. Herein, we develop a photothermal material based on bagasse for solar steam generation to relieve freshwater crisis and mitigate environmental pollution caused by bio-waste. The mainly functional part of the solar driven steam generator in this paper is bagasse-based photothermal aerogel (B-PTA), which composes of carbonized bagasse (CB) and bagasse-derived cellulose ber (BDCF). The B-PTA with CB can effectively absorb solar (~95%) and has an excellent light-to-heat ability. The B-PTA with DBCF has super-hydrophilicity, water transport and retention ability. Depending on the excellent light absorption and 3D water passageway, the B-PTA gives a water evaporation rate of 1.36 kg m -2 h -1 , and can achieve a photothermal conversion e ciency of 77.34% under 1-sun illumination (1 kW m -2 ). The B-PTA has excellent stability that the e ciency without signi cant decrease after 20 cycles. In addition, the B-PTA can effectively desalt seawater and purify dye wastewater with natural sunlight. Therefore, turning bio-waste into valuable photothermal material for solar steam generation is possible. Due to the merits of low cost, scalability, environmental friendliness, B-PTA has the potential for real-world water puri cation.

Green synthesis of fluorescent carbon quantum dots from bagasse: inhibition of calcium sulphate scales

“…Bagasse is one of the most important agricultural wastes and a byproduct of the sugar industry; moreover, it is a potential precursor for producing water treatment agents owing to its abundance, low cost and rich composition of lignocellulosic compounds. 19,20 In line with the principles of green chemistry, water was used as the medium, which is conducive to the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups on the CQDs surface; this approach yielded CQDs with excellent water solubility and enhanced scale inhibition. The morphological characteristics, optical properties and scale inhibition performances of the as-synthesised CQDs scale inhibitors were thoroughly investigated using various experimental techniques.…”

Polymer‐decorated daikon‐based solar evaporators for efficient interfacial water evaporation

“…This aerogel absorbs about 95% sunlight with a solar thermal capability of 77.34% under 1-solar intensity. 10 Qu developed a vertically aligned graphene sheet film with light absorption close to 100%, resulting in a solar thermal efficiency of 86.5%. 11 It is well known that excellent hydrophilicity is necessary for PTMs to raise the rate of water evaporation.…”

“…Li fabricated a photothermal aerogel from bagasse, which consists of water transporter bagasse‐derived cellulose fiber and light absorber carbonized bagasse. This aerogel absorbs about 95% sunlight with a solar thermal capability of 77.34% under 1‐solar intensity 10 . Qu developed a vertically aligned graphene sheet film with light absorption close to 100%, resulting in a solar thermal efficiency of 86.5% 11 .…”