IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop Nanofluid-based liquid to desalinate sea water into potable water

Conventional desalination methods, reliant on heat generated using fossil fuels are a concern amid a severe global water shortage, necessitating advancements

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) led by Prof. Tamal Banerjee, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, have successfully produced a novel heat transfer fluid based on nanofluids, which is capable of efficiently transferring heat generated using solar power to desalination systems.

This advancement promises a practical solution for producing potable water from seawater, addressing the pressing issue of global water scarcity.

With the world facing a severe water shortage that outpaces population growth, the demand for desalination, a process that extracts freshwater from saltwater, has become critical. However, conventional desalination methods use heat generated by burning fossil fuels, leading to economic and environmental challenges. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) that uses sunlight to generate heat is a promising solution to this problem.

Elaborating on their work, Nipu Kumar Das, "We developed a nanoparticle-dispersed deep eutectic solvent (NDDES) through precise mixing, demonstrating outstanding thermal conductivity and stability. This breakthrough has immense potential for sustainable energy applications, particularly in solar energy and desalination."

The study has demonstrated the superior thermal properties of nanofluids in heat transfer applications. The researchers have also proposed an innovative desalination system utilizing nanofluids and a heat exchanger. This system aims to achieve a Gain Output Ratio (GOR) of around 10, indicating the potential for generating a larger quantity of freshwater.

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