Eco-friendly and recyclable evaporator based on discarded cigarette filters for high-efficiency and stable solar desalination

Solar steam generation is a promising technology to realize efficient and green desalination with minimized carbon footprint. Discarded cigarette filters (CFs) cause significant harm the environment but have good recycling potential for solar generation. In this study, an thermally-positioned material (AC-CF), which uses renewable cellulose acetate CFs acetylene black (AC) coating as absorber, was developed application generator. The AC-CF exhibited superhydrophilic characteristics extensive absorption (approximately 100%). These properties enable resulting exhibit rapid water transport strong photothermal conversion ability, outstanding evaporation rate of 1.81 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun illumination. evaporator can remove most impurities dye molecules during outdoor operation. Subsequently, dissolved recycled using N, N-dimethylformamide, method yielded results. This preparing absorbers reduces manufacturing costs guides practical polymer resources discarded CFs.