Performance analysis of distillate quality in solar still using culinary discharge

Abstract

ABSTRACT The scarcity of clean water is a pressing global problem resulting from limited freshwater resources and substantial sewage discharge. It is essential to develop cost-effective and straightforward methods for converting wastewater into potable water to ensure the long-term sustainability of the human population. In this study, we introduce a simple and efficient technique that combines a single slope solar still (SSSS) with a sand bed filtration system. We evaluated the effectiveness of this technique by examining various water quality parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, phosphate, nitrate, and E. coli, for kitchen wastewater (KWW), settled kitchen wastewater (SKWW), and borewell water (BW). Our results showed that the SSSS process successfully removed impurities and bacteria via solar evaporation, resulting in significant improvements in all water quality parameters. The SKWW demonstrated the highest efficiency of 40%, with a water depth of 1 cm and a daily freshwater yield of 3.1 Lm-2. The SSSS process offers several advantages over conventional wastewater treatment methods, including high performance, ease of use, portability, and low cost, making it a promising solution for obtaining clean water in remote areas.