Regulating ordered structure and multi-functions of zeolite aerogels for solar steam generation and heavy metal ion adsorption

The interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) is considered to be a promising technology to alleviate the water crisis. However, the salt accumulation on the solar evaporators and the heavy metal pollution in water hinder the commercial potential and practical application of the evaporators. Herein, a solar evaporator with high salt resistance and efficient heavy metal wastewater treatment is designed using commercial artificial zeolite as matrix, modified zeolite (MZ), cellulose acetate (CA), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), named as MZPC@CNTs. The applicability of the developed MZPC@CNTs in water evaporation, seawater desalination, heavy metal wastewater treatment, and water purification of organic pollutants is studied systematically. Through the regulation of the ordered structure and multiple functions, the obtained MZPC@CNTs based aerogel shows an evaporation rate of 1.72 kg m-2 h−1 with a corresponding efficiency of 95.33% under 1 sun radiation. In addition, the MZPC @CNTs aerogel also exhibits excellent ion desalination performance and excellent salt resistance towards the purification of heavy metal-contaminated wastewater. This solar evaporator has the advantages of simple preparation, low cost, and stable desalination performance, and reveals great potential in alleviating the shortage of global freshwater resources.