Interfacial evaporation device for evaporation ponds

A method for interfacial water evaporation of a body of water, the method comprising:

• directing, by a wick, water from a body of water to a membrane disposed on a non-submerged surface of a hydrophobic member floating at a surface of the body of water, wherein the wick extends through the hydrophobic member and connects to the membrane;
• receiving, by the membrane, solar energy at an evaporation surface of the membrane;
• and
• transferring, by the membrane, at least a portion of the received solar energy to the water directed by the wick from the body of water to the membrane, thereby evaporating at least a portion of the water.

A system for interfacial water evaporation, the system comprising:

• a body of water comprising produced water that has been extracted from a well formed in a subterranean formation;
• and
• a device comprising:
• a floating hydrophobic member configured to float at a surface of the body of water;
• a membrane disposed on a surface of the floating hydrophobic member, wherein the membrane defines an evaporation surface of the device for receiving solar energy;
• and
• a wick connected to the membrane and extending through the floating hydrophobic member, wherein the wick is configured to extend into the body of water and draw water from the body of water and direct the drawn water to the membrane, wherein the membrane is configured to transfer at least a portion of the received solar energy to the drawn water directed to the membrane by the wick to evaporate the drawn water, thereby decreasing a water content of the body of water.