Indian scientists create solar-powered system to turn seawater into drinking water

Researchers at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, have developed a solar-powered water purification technology that can convert seawater, sewage and contaminated water into safe drinking water using only sunlight and an inexpensive floating material. The innovation aims to provide an affordable and sustainable solution to the growing global drinking water crisis.

The system uses a specially designed floating evaporator made from coconut shell-derived carbon, cement and foam. When placed on the surface of contaminated water, the nanoporous material absorbs solar energy, significantly speeding up evaporation compared to natural sunlight alone. The resulting water vapour is then condensed into clean drinking water, while salts, heavy metals, pollutants and other harmful contaminants remain behind.