Sustainable Solar Desalination Utilizing Wood Waste-Based Phase Change Materials: Performance Enhancement and Comparative Analysis

Addressing global freshwater scarcity requires innovative, sustainable technologies. Solar desalination, a renewable and eco-friendly process, converts saline water into potable water using solar energy. Nonetheless, its productivity is often limited by the intermittent nature of solar radiation. The integration of phase change materials (PCMs) enhances thermal energy storage, enabling distillation beyond daylight hours. This paper presents a detailed analysis of wood waste-based PCM composites in solar desalination systems and provides a comparative assessment against conventional PCMs such as paraffin wax, stearic acid, and lauric acid. The study highlights improvements in freshwater yield, economic viability, and sustainability, demonstrating the potential of harnessing biomass residues to advance energy-efficient water purification technologies