Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water
news.mit.edu
A new solar desalination system takes in saltwater and heats it with natural sunlight. The system flushes out accumulated salt, so replacement parts aren’t needed often, meaning the system could potentially produce drinking water that is cheaper than tap water.

According to MIT, this technology works even at small scale, with one the size of a suitcase able to desalinate 6 litres per hour, and only needing to be serviced every few years.

Here’s a video detailing how it works.

  • I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.org
    0·
    11 months ago

    None to very little. This device is a solar evaporator, so most the minerals would stay behind. Some minerals will be carried up by convection with the evaporating water, but not a lot.

    In a reverse osmosis plant, it uses tiny filters that only allow water molecules and smaller to pass through, so it would be possible for some lithium or other small minerals to get through.

    • Anamana@feddit.de
      0·
      11 months ago

      Makes sense, that’s what I thought. So do you add minerals afterwards or how do you proceed after extruding the water? If you were to use it for human consumption.