Renewable Solar Energy Could Purify Water, New Study Shows

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that renewable solar energy could play a crucial role in purifying water.

Traditionally, electrochemical separation has been employed for water remediation, an energy-efficient method for purifying contaminated water. However, this process typically relies on electric energy derived from nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuels.

Using Solar Energy for Purifying Water

A team of chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has made a breakthrough by integrating solar energy into the electrochemical separation process using a semiconductor. 

This approach harnesses solar power to drive a redox reaction, manipulating ions’ electric charge to effectively separate them from water solutions.

In a demonstration of this system, the researchers effectively separated and removed dilute arsenate, a byproduct of arsenic from steel and mining industries, from wastewater. This development holds promise for the water treatment and environmental protection industries.

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