Experimental investigation focuses on the desalination productivity and water quality using a Nano CuO-coated floated absorber in a solar still

Solar desalination effectively mitigates water scarcity by utilizing direct sunlight to evaporate water into vapor, subsequently collecting the distilled water. Saltwater desalination was carried out using the coated solar still (CSS) and the conventional solar still (TSS) at depths of 3, 5, and 7 cm, respectively. The coated solar still was made even more efficient by adding (30 wt%) of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles to the black paint on the sides of the solar basin, increasing heat convection. The coated copper oxide nanoparticle steel sheet, measuring 0.05 mm in thickness, was secured to the water surface using a floated frame during the water level adjustment. This study was carried out over three days, examining various water depths while maintaining consistent climatic conditions. The TSS and CSS yields were 250 ml, 260 ml, and 255 ml, respectively, based on measurements taken at 3 cm, 5 cm, and 7 cm water depths for the cumulative distillate water production. At a water level of 5 cm, the cumulative water production of the CSS experimental field increased by 71% to 445 ml compared to the measurements taken on the previous two days. While in TSS, the pH of the salty water dropped to 7.86, in CSS, it fell to 7.46. Water with a high salt content has its total dissolved solids (TDS) cut in half.