Recycling of halophytic date palm wastes decorated polyaniline for highly efficient salt resistance through solar steam generation

To achieve optimal performance in solar steam generation (SSG), a promising approach for delivering a sustainable water supply, an efficient photothermal conversion process is essential. In this context, halophytes, salt-tolerant plants capable of thriving in high-salinity environments, are employed as salt-rejecting absorbers. Three different parts of halophyte plant residues, leaves, trunks, and roots, were studied to evaluate their ability to resist high salinity. An evaporation rate of 1.15 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a conversion efficiency of 79.01 % was achieved using root residues without any modification. Furthermore, the plant residues were encapsulated in polyaniline, a promising photothermal material, resulting in an outstanding evaporation rate of 1.89 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and a conversion efficiency of 97.7 % for Roots@PANI. According to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition activity measurements, the inhibition increased to 36.85 %, 49.96 %, and 79.09 % for trunks, leaves, and roots, respectively. This suggests that palm tree roots contain a higher total antioxidant content than the other parts, providing a stronger defense mechanism against salinity stress. Accordingly, our system is considered an eco-friendly approach that reduces the environmental impact of desalination processes and can lower water production costs through solar energy utilization and waste recycling.