Productivity enhancement of solar stills using natural fibers: experimental investigation on the effect of Strychnos potatorum seeds and gooseberry stems

Solar stills are a simple and renewable system for producing potable water from impure sources. However, the efficiency of solar stills is limited by their low productivity. Researchers have suggested various methods for improving the efficiency of solar stills, including the addition of natural fibers to the basin water. In this study, dried Strychnos potatorum seeds and dried gooseberry stems were added to the basin water to investigate their effect on productivity. The fibers were found to increase the surface area of the evaporating surface, which increases the rate of evaporation and overall productivity of the system. The dried Strychnos potatorum seeds and dried gooseberry stems have suitable porosity and solar absorption capacity, which further contribute to their effectiveness in enhancing the productivity of the solar still. The cumulative yield of the conventional solar still was found to be 1,053 mL/d, while the addition of Strychnos potatorum and gooseberry stem resulted in distillate outputs of 1,632 and 1,494 mL/d, respectively, corresponding to increases of 55% and 42%. Economic analysis indicated the feasibility of the process, making it a promising solution for sustainable and affordable water production. The observed increases in productivity could contribute to the widespread adoption of solar stills as a low-cost and sustainable method for producing potable water. These results demonstrate the potential of incorporating natural fibers into solar stills to improve performance and support the transition to sustainable water sources.