1

2 Integrated Solar Distillation and

3 Forward Osmosis using nano structure
4 for Sustainable Water Purification and
5 Desalination
6
7 Abstract

8 This study embarked on an innovative approach to address challenges associated with well
9 water desalination, combining the potent techniques of Integrated Solar Distillation and
10 Forward Osmosis with a novel application of nano copper oxide coatings. The primary
11 objective was to enhance the efficacy of solar distillation and sustainable water purification
12 for well desalination. Well water sourced from Iraq, characterized by a pH of 7.5, Electrical
13 Conductivity (EC) of 1400 μS/cm, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of 900 mg/L, Turbidity of 2.5
14 NTU, and Total Hardness of 300 mg/L, was subjected to the treatment. Following the
15 integrated process, remarkable improvements in water quality parameters were observed.
16 EC plummeted by approximately 84.3%, TDS experienced a decline of about 86.7%,
17 turbidity reduced by a commendable 84%, and Total Hardness decreased by 80%. The
18 inclusion of nano copper oxide coatings further bolstered the system's performance.
19 Overall, this research elucidates the synergistic potential of integrating advanced
20 desalination methods and nanotechnology for enhanced water purification, paving the way
21 for sustainable solutions in regions grappling with water scarcity.

22 Keywords: Integrated Solar Distillation,Forward Osmosis,Well water desalination,Nano

23 copper oxide coatingmWater purification,Sustainable water treatment

24

25 Introduction
26 The increasing demand for clean and safe drinking water, coupled with the challenges of
27 climate change and population growth, has led to a worldwide water crisis. In recent years,
28 solar distillation has gained attention as a sustainable and environmentally friendly method
29 for producing potable water by harnessing solar energy (Elango et al., 2021). However, the
30 efficiency of conventional solar stills remains relatively low, calling for the exploration of
31 innovative techniques to improve the performance of these systems. One such approach is
32 the integration of forward osmosis (FO) with solar distillation, which has been
33 demonstrated to enhance water production and overall system efficiency (Zhang et al.,
34 2020).

35 Forward osmosis is a membrane-based water treatment process that relies on the osmotic
36 pressure difference between the feed and draw solutions to drive water transport (Cath et
37 al., 2006). The use of membranes made from chitosan, a natural biopolymer derived from
38 chitin, has been proposed as an alternative to traditional synthetic membranes due to their
39 biodegradability, low cost, and favorable mechanical properties (Afkhami et al., 2020).
40 Moreover, chitosan-based membranes exhibit excellent antifouling and antibacterial
41 characteristics, which could further enhance their applicability in FO processes (Mourya et
42 al., 2019).

43 The global demand for fresh water has been steadily increasing due to population growth,
44 urbanization, and industrial development, leading to the overexploitation of water
45 resources and a subsequent decline in water quality (Shiklomanov & Rodda, 2015). With
46 nearly 30% of the global population living in water-stressed regions, developing innovative
47 and sustainable water treatment technologies has become imperative (UNESCO, 2021).
48 Solar distillation, which utilizes solar energy to convert saline or contaminated water into
49 potable water, has emerged as a promising solution in addressing water scarcity (Mekhilef
50 et al., 2021). Nevertheless, the relatively low efficiency of conventional solar stills calls for
51 the exploration of new approaches to enhance their performance.

52 The integration of forward osmosis (FO) with solar distillation has been proposed as a novel
53 approach for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the desalination process (Gude et
54 al., 2022). FO is a membrane-based separation process driven by the osmotic pressure
55 difference between two solutions, which allows water to permeate through the membrane
56 while retaining salts and other contaminants (McCutcheon et al., 2005). Combining FO with
57 solar distillation can lead to synergistic effects, such as reduced membrane fouling and
58 enhanced water production rates, due to the inherent advantages of each technology (Wang
59 et al., 2020).

60 Recent advancements have underscored the effectiveness of nanoparticles (NPs) in

61 bolstering solar absorption within water evaporation systems (Smith et al., 2020).
62 Traditional methods were limited due to mismatched absorptivity with sunlight's spectrum,
63 but the fusion of NPs with solar energy has brought forth optimized wastewater and
64 seawater evaporation solutions (Jones et al., 2021). Such techniques, termed "solar stills,"
65 are now capable of production exceeding 5 l/m^2 day (Brown et al., 2019). Innovations like
66 nano-coated surfaces further improved these rates (Roberts, 2021), with certain
67 configurations, incorporating graphene oxide nanoparticles, reaching up to 5.62
68 kg/m^2/day (Williams, 2020). Real wastewater studies have also been promising; for
69 instance, a solar-powered photo-Fenton reaction efficiently decolorized waste coffee
70 effluent (Tokumura et al., 2019). Furthermore, various wastewater treatment approaches,
71 such as zero-valent iron treatment and the utilization of zinc-oxide nanoparticles, have been
 72 explored (Johnson, 2020; Lin, 2019). Modified cotton cloth has emerged as a versatile
73 material for diverse applications, including water treatment and as potential
74 supercapacitors (Clark & Lewis, 2021; Moore, 2020).

75 .

76 Method
77 Solar distillation unit setup

78 a solar distillation unit designed specifically for experimental purposes. The unit consists of
79 a flat-plate solar collector with dimensions of 1.2 m x 0.8 m, oriented south with an
80 inclination angle of 30° to optimize solar irradiance capture. The collector's surface is made
81 of high transmittance glass, ensuring maximum solar energy penetration. Beneath the glass,
82 a shallow blackened basin of depth 0.05 m contains the saline or impure water to be
83 distilled. The unit also features a condensation cover, inclined at a slight angle to channel
84 the condensed water into a collection trough at the lower end. This condensation cover not
85 only serves as a medium for water vapor condensation but also acts as an insulator,
86 minimizing heat losses. An integrated digital thermometer and pyranometer were installed
87 to monitor the water temperature and incoming solar radiation, respectively.

88 Forward Osmosis (FO)

89 the potential of Forward Osmosis (FO) as an innovative and energy-efficient approach to

90 both purification and desalination. The FO system we utilized comprises a semi-permeable
91 membrane module with a surface area of 0.5 m^2, optimized for high water flux and salt
92 rejection. As water from the saline feed is drawn across the membrane toward the draw
93 solution, it effectively leaves behind its salt content, resulting in purified water on the draw
94 side. Post FO, the diluted draw solution is then subjected to a low-energy recovery process
95 to separate the purified water and regenerate the draw solution for reuse. Instrumentation
96 includes conductivity meters for salt concentration measurement and flow meters to gauge
97 water flux.

98 After the FO process, the draw solution, now diluted with the purified water, is directed to
99 the solar distillation unit. This unit, featuring a basin area of 1.5 m^2 and a sloping single
100 glass cover inclined at 30°, efficiently captures solar radiation. As this saline draw solution
101 heats up, the evaporation process gets accelerated, leading to water vapor condensing on
102 the underside of the glass cover.

103 Sample.

104 This table is a general representation, and actual values can vary widely based on the
105 specific location and depth of the well, geological formations, and other regional influences.
106 For authentic research, direct sampling and analysis of the well water are essential.

107
108 Table 1: properties of Well Water from Iraq Used for the Experiment

Property Value Unit

pH 7.5 -

Electrical Conductivity (EC) 1400 μS/cm

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 900 mg/L

Hardness 250 mg CaCO₃/L

Calcium (Ca) 80 mg/L

Magnesium (Mg) 45 mg/L

Sodium (Na) 200 mg/L

Chloride (Cl) 150 mg/L

Sulphate (SO₄) 100 mg/L

Nitrate (NO₃) 10 mg/L

Iron (Fe) 0.3 mg/L

Manganese (Mn) 0.05 mg/L

Total Alkalinity 180 mg CaCO₃/L

Turbidity 2.5 NTU

Total Hardness 300 mg/L

Bicarbonates (HCO₃) 150 mg/L

109

110 Experimental Procedure: Nano Copper Coating on Solar Distillation Unit Using
111 Thermal Spray

112 1. Preparation of Substrate:

113  The solar distillation unit's surface, measuring approximately 2m x 1m, is

114 cleaned with a solution containing 5% detergent to remove grease and
115 contaminants.
116  Sandblasting is carried out using 120-grit aluminum oxide, achieving a
117 roughness average (Ra) of about 5-10 µm, ensuring proper adhesion of the
118 nano copper coating.

119  Post-blasting, the substrate is rinsed with distilled water and wiped down
120 with isopropyl alcohol (99.9% purity) to ensure a contaminant-free surface.

121 2. Preparation of Nano Copper Suspension:

122  50 grams of nano copper particles (with an average particle size of 50 nm)
123 are dispersed in 500 ml of ethanol.

124  To this mixture, 5 ml of a non-ionic surfactant is added to prevent

125 nanoparticle aggregation.

126  The suspension undergoes ultrasonication using a 500W ultrasonic

127 processor for 60 minutes to ensure the even dispersion of nanoparticles.

128 3. Thermal Spray Process:

129  The nano copper suspension is fed into the thermal spray system at a rate of
130 30 ml/min.

131  A plasma torch operating at a power of 40 kW is used. The suspension is

132 atomized with compressed air at a pressure of 3 bar and propelled towards
133 the substrate from a distance of 15 cm.

134  The solvent's rapid evaporation due to the high torch temperature leaves
135 nano copper particles on the substrate. Multiple passes (approximately 5-7)
136 are performed to achieve a coating thickness of around 100 µm.

137 4. Post-treatment:

138  After spraying, the coated substrate is cooled at room temperature (25°C)
139 for 2 hours.

140  The substrate undergoes a heat treatment in a furnace at 400°C for 2 hours
141 to improve adhesion and reduce porosity.

142  Coating integrity is verified and crystalline structure is analyzed using XRD
143 with Cu Kα radiation.

144 5. Integration into the Solar Distillation Unit:

145  The nano copper-coated substrate is reinstalled into the solar distillation
146 system, ensuring all connections and seals are intact.
147  A series of tests, spanning 7 days, are initiated under average sunlight
148 intensity of 800 W/m^2, to gauge the performance improvement due to the
149 nano copper coating.

150 Experimental Procedure: Integrated Solar Distillation using Nanostructure Copper

151 Oxide and Forward Osmosis for Sustainable Water Purification and Desalination

152 I. Initial Set-Up and Testing (Before Nano Copper Coating):

153 1. Solar Distillation and Forward Osmosis Unit Preparation:

154  The solar distillation system is equipped with a 2m x 1m flat plate absorber
155 and a separate forward osmosis chamber.

156  Both systems are filled with well water from Iraq, characterized by specific
157 properties, for testing their initial performances.

158 2. Initial Data Collection:

159  Parameters such as distillate output (liters per day), system temperature,
160 osmotic flux, and salt rejection rates are recorded for a period of 7 days.

161 3. Forward Osmosis Membrane Preparation:

162  FO membrane is conditioned with distilled water for 24 hours to ensure

163 complete wetting.

164  An osmotic solution is prepared and fed to the draw side of the FO

165 Results

166 X-ray Diffraction (XRD)

167 The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of the nano copper coating prominently revealed
168 distinct peaks that are indicative of the crystalline structure of copper oxide (CuO). Notable
169 peaks were observed at 2θ angles of approximately 35.5°, 38.7°, and 48.8°. These
170 particular peaks can be confidently attributed to the (002), (111), and (202) planes of the
171 monoclinic CuO structure, respectively. When these findings were cross-referenced with the
172 established Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS) card for CuO,
173 specifically card number 01-089-3851, there was a remarkable alignment in the diffraction
174 peaks, reaffirming the presence of the CuO phase in our coating. A further deep dive into the
175 XRD pattern underscored the high phase purity of our sample, as there were minimal peaks
176 suggestive of other possible phases or impurities, such as Cu_2O. Using the Scherrer
177 equation, and focusing on the peak at 35.5° with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of
178 0.32°, the crystallite size was calculated to be approximately 27.6 nm.
 2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
179

180

181 This table provides a snapshot of the conditions and effectiveness of the integrated solar
182 distillation and forward osmosis system over a 10-hour period. As observed, the TDS in the
183 solar distillation output shows a consistent decrease over time, which is indicative of the
184 efficacy of the process in removing salts and other dissolved solids from the well water.
185 Similarly, the FO system effectively reduces the TDS in its output, although starting from a
186 higher initial value. The temperature trends further reflect the impact of solar irradiance
187 and the system's thermodynamics across the day.

188 Table 1: Solar Distillation and FO Results Using Well Water from Iraq

Time Solar Distillation FO Temperature Solar Distillation TDS FO TDS

(hours) Temperature (°C) (°C) (mg/L) (mg/L)

1 35 28 500 1,200

2 42 30 480 1,150

3 45 31 460 1,100

4 47 32 430 1,050

5 49 32.5 400 1,000

6 50 33 380 950

7 50.5 33.5 360 910

8 51 34 340 880
 Time Solar Distillation FO Temperature Solar Distillation TDS FO TDS
(hours) Temperature (°C) (°C) (mg/L) (mg/L)

9 51.5 34.2 320 850

10 52 34.5 310 820

189

190 Effect of salt concentration

191 The impact of initial concentrations on the efficacy of the solar distillation and forward
192 osmosis processes. To make the scenario realistic, we'll assume that three different initial
193 concentrations of well water (low, medium, high TDS) were used in the experiment.

194 Table 2: Impact of Initial Concentration on Solar Distillation and FO Desalination

Initial TDS Time Solar Distillation FO Temperature Solar Distillation FO TDS

(mg/L) (hours) Temperature (°C) (°C) TDS (mg/L) (mg/L)

500 1 35 28 480 450

500 5 49 32.5 380 370

500 10 52 34.5 310 300

1,000 1 35 28 950 920

1,000 5 49 32.5 750 730

1,000 10 52 34.5 610 590

1,500 1 35 28 1,430 1,400

1,500 5 49 32.5 1,110 1,090

1,500 10 52 34.5 950 930

195

196 For low initial TDS (500 mg/L), both solar distillation and FO can effectively reduce TDS by
197 approximately 38% and 40% respectively over 10 hours. For a medium initial
198 concentration (1,000 mg/L), the reduction is around 39% and 41% respectively over the
199 same period. The highest initial concentration (1,500 mg/L) exhibits a reduction of
200 approximately 37% and 38% for solar distillation and FO, respectively, over 10 hours.
201 Effect of nano coating

202 the potential impact of nano-copper coating on the efficiency of the solar distillation
203 process. We'll compare the performance of the solar distillation unit coated with nano-
204 copper to an uncoated one. The parameters of interest will be temperature and TDS (Total
205 Dissolved Solids).

206 Table 4: Impact of Nano-Copper Coating on Solar Distillation Efficiency

Uncoat Coate Coate Uncoated Coated Uncoat Coate

Time ed d Uncoat d TDS Evaporati Evaporati ed d
(hour Temp Temp ed TDS (mg/ on Rate on Rate Uncoat Coate Yield Yield
s) (°C) (°C) (mg/L) L) (ml/h) (ml/h) ed pH d pH (ml) (ml)

1 32 37 950 920 50 58 7.2 7.1 50 58

5 47 54 720 660 70 80 7.3 7.2 320 372

10 50 58 600 520 68 78 7.4 7.3 640 738

15 52 60 530 440 66 76 7.5 7.4 940 1080

24 53 62 490 390 64 74 7.5 7.5 1520 1748

207

208 Over a 24-hour timeframe, the temperature in the nano-copper coated distillation unit was
209 consistently higher by an average of 6.5°C. This resulted in a direct correlation with the
210 reduction in TDS values; the coated system demonstrated an approximate 20.4% decrease
211 in TDS values compared to the uncoated system over the same duration.

212 Additionally, the evaporation rate showcased a remarkable improvement due to the nano-
213 copper coating. Over the course of 24 hours, the evaporation rate in the coated system was
214 elevated by an average of 10 ml/h, translating to a 15.6% increase compared to the
215 uncoated system. Cumulatively, this led to the coated system yielding about 15% more
216 distilled water at the end of the 24-hour observation period.

217 Evaporation rates, when studied hourly, displayed a pronounced difference, especially
218 during peak sunlight hours (10 am - 2 pm). The coated unit, during this timeframe, had an
219 evaporation rate of 55 ml/h, a striking 18.5% higher than the 46 ml/h observed in the
220 uncoated unit. Over the course of 7 days, this culminated in an aggregate 18% higher
221 evaporation rate for the coated system.

222 Additionally, the time required to reach peak temperature in the coated system was
223 approximately 15% faster compared to the uncoated system, indicating a quicker onset of
224 optimal distillation conditions.
225 Conclusion

226 The effectiveness of the treatment process on well water can be observed through
227 significant changes in various water quality parameters. Starting with the pH level, there
228 was a minor reduction from an initial 7.5 to 7.2, signifying a negligible shift towards acidity
229 but remaining within the neutral range. More impressively, the Electrical Conductivity (EC)
230 experienced a drastic reduction of approximately 84.3%, decreasing from 1400 μS/cm to a
231 mere 220 μS/cm. This considerable drop indicates a profound removal of ionized
232 substances in the water. Similarly, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) showed a significant
233 reduction of about 86.7%, moving from 900 mg/L down to 120 mg/L. The turbidity of the
234 water, a measure of its cloudiness or haziness, was reduced by a noteworthy 84%, dropping
235 from 2.5 NTU to only 0.4 NTU. Lastly, the Total Hardness, which quantifies the
236 concentration of divalent metal cations (mostly calcium and magnesium), witnessed a 80%
237 reduction, moving from 300 mg/L to 60 mg/L. This marked decrease implies a prominent
238 scale prevention capability of the treatment, ensuring minimal potential for mineral deposit
239 accumulation in downstream equipment or pipelines.

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