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Rochester Solar Desalination Removes Salt, Captures Lithium

5/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

University of Rochester researchers built a solar-thermal desalination system that makes fresh water from sunlight and eliminates brine waste.
The device uses femtosecond-laser-etched black metal panels that absorb light, wick water outward, and trap salts, achieving nearly 100 % removal in tests with Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean water.
Adding hydrogen titanate nanoparticles removed about 50 % of lithium from Great Salt Lake water and was reported on May 27.

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Story summary

University of Rochester researchers built a solar-thermal desalination system that makes fresh water from sunlight and eliminates brine waste.
The device uses femtosecond-laser-etched black metal panels that absorb light, wick water outward, and trap salts, achieving nearly 100 % removal in tests with Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean water.
Adding hydrogen titanate nanoparticles removed about 50 % of lithium from Great Salt Lake water and was reported on May 27.