Eco-Friendly Water Purification Using a Single Slope Solar Still

Access to clean and safe drinking water remains a critical global challenge, particularly in remote and arid regions. This study investigates an eco-friendly approach to water purification through the use of a single-slope solar still, a sustainable and low-cost solution powered by renewable solar energy. Enhancements were introduced to improve the still’s efficiency, including the integration of reflective aluminium foils to maximize solar radiation absorption and the use of blackened stainless steel balls to expand the effective evaporation surface area. Experimental results demonstrated that these modifications significantly boosted freshwater output, with the use of 10 mm steel balls achieving a 38.07% increase in productivity compared to a conventional still. The system operates with zero emissions and minimal maintenance, confirming its potential as a green, scalable solution for decentralized water purification in water-scarce environment thermal efficiencies by various rates.