Water scarcity has long been one of the most pressing challenges for humanity. Currently, up to 36 per cent of the world’s population struggles with severe freshwater shortages for at least four months of the year. By 2050, this figure could increase to a staggering 75 per cent, threatening agriculture and human health.   

Seawater desalination has long been seen as a potential solution, but traditional desalination processes are energy-intensive and contribute to the climate crisis, making them less desirable. 

Recently, a team of scientists from the University of South Australia (UniSA), in collaboration with researchers from China, has made a breakthrough that could make desalination a more viable solution. They’ve discovered a method of increasing the evaporation rate of seawater, making the desalination process not only faster but also more energy-efficient. 

By infusing common, low-cost clay minerals into a floating photothermal hydrogel (a 3D network of hydrophilic/water-loving polymers that can swell in water while holding their structure), the team increased seawater evaporation rates by 18.8 per cent compared to pure water. This marks a significant advancement, as previous studies showed seawater evaporation rates were about eight per cent lower than those of pure water.  

With over 17,000 desalination plants already operating worldwide, even small improvements in evaporation efficiency could translate to millions of extra litres of clean water, providing much needed relief to communities facing chronic water shortages. Moreover, as the new method requires minimal additional energy input, it promises a more sustainable way to turn seawater into fresh water without the carbon-heavy footprint of traditional desalination technologies. 

“By integrating it into existing desalination systems, we could unlock vast new sources of clean water for billions of people, especially in arid regions where freshwater is scarce,” said Professor Haolan Xu, a materials science expert at UniSA in a press release.  

Early tests show that the hydrogel evaporator continues to perform effectively, even after months of immersion in seawater, indicating its durability and long-term potential.  

This breakthrough, published in the journal Advanced Materials, represents a major step forward in the global effort to secure freshwater for future generations. With this new technology, the dream of a world where everyone has access to clean, sustainable water is now one step closer to reality. 

Looking ahead, the team plans to explore further ways to enhance the evaporation process, with the goal of scaling the technology for widespread use in desalination plants around the world. 

Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.