Konjac glucomannan-derived N-doped carbon aerogel for efficient solar-driven desalination and phenol degradation via advanced oxidation

Water pollution and freshwater scarcity are pressing global challenges. Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation (SDIWE) emerges as a promising and eco-friendly strategy to tackle both challenges simultaneously. Utilizing a high-temperature carbonized soft-template approach, the Konjac Glucomannan/Curdlan/C 3 N 4 (KCN) evaporator features a highly porous network and a superhydrophilic surface, which enhance water transport efficiency. The evaporator efficiently absorbs over 90 % of solar radiation from 200 to 2500 nm and contains an optimized proportion of pyrrolic nitrogen, thereby lowering water evaporation enthalpy and enhancing vapor generation. Consequently, the KCN-based evaporator reaches an impressive evaporation rate of 4.70 kg·m −2 ·h −1 and demonstrates a photothermal conversion efficiency of 97.92 %. The system also ensures effective ion rejection, successfully eliminating Na + , Mg 2+ , K + , and Ca 2+ to levels compliant with World Health Organization guidelines, while exhibiting antimicrobial activity. Additionally, it degrades persistent organic pollutants, such as phenol, via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The incorporation of nitrogen functionalities boosts peroxymonosulphate adsorption and activation, facilitating abundant active sites for reactive oxygen species generation. This study integrates SDIWE with AOPs, offering an efficient and sustainable solution for desalination and wastewater purification.