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Environmental sustainability

Breakthrough in Sustainability Research: 3D-Printed Dual-Scale Porous Hydrogel Evaporator Achieves High-Efficiency Solar Desalination

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Beijing Forestry University researchers have made a significant advancement in sustainability research, developing a 3D-printed dual-scale porous hydrogel evaporator (DPHE) that achieves high-efficiency solar desalination and sustainable salt rejection. The innovative technology, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, utilizes a biomimetic architecture inspired by the vascular system of natural wood to promote rapid water transport and salt ion diffusion through Marangoni convection.

Key Takeaways:

  • The DPHE achieves an evaporation rate of 2.55 kg m(-2) h(-1) under 1-sun irradiation, with a solar-to-vapor efficiency of 92.04%.
  • The optimized DPHE maintains over 90% efficiency over twenty consecutive 8-h cycles, leveraging its dual-scale porosity to prevent salt accumulation.
  • The hydrogel network restructuring results in a reduced evaporation enthalpy of 1299.4 J g(-1).
  • The DPHE produces practical freshwater yields of 3.74-5.54 L m(-2) per day, with 99% ion rejection from simulated seawater.
  • The researchers demonstrated the scalability and eco-friendliness of the SDIE system through programmable 3D architectures and biomass-derived materials.
  • The DPHE addresses critical challenges in freshwater production and hypersaline wastewater treatment.
  • Ming-Guo Ma and colleagues from Beijing Forestry University, Zhong-Hui Guo, Lei Chen, Qi Liu, Jia-Qi Lang, Sheng-Can Yang, and Tian Mai, contributed to this research.

Statistics:

  • 2.55 kg m(-2) h(-1): evaporation rate of the optimised DPHE under 1-sun irradiation
  • 92.04%: solar-to-vapor efficiency of the DPHE
  • 1299.4 J g(-1): reduced evaporation enthalpy due to hydrogel network restructuring
  • 90%: efficiency maintained over twenty consecutive 8-h cycles
  • 3.74-5.54 L m(-2) per day: practical freshwater yields from the DPHE
  • 99%: ion rejection from simulated seawater using the DPHE

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Findings from Beijing Forestry University Provides New Data about Sustainability Research (3d-printed Dual-scale Porous Hydrogel Evaporator With Biomimetic Architecture for High-efficiency Solar Desalination and Sustainable Salt Rejection). Biotech Week. October 22, 2025; p 102.
  • Ma, M.-G., et al. 3d-printed Dual-scale Porous Hydrogel Evaporator With Biomimetic Architecture for High-efficiency Solar Desalination and Sustainable Salt Rejection. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025;522.

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