A team of engineers at the University of Utah, led by Sameer Rao, with funding from the Department of Defense, has developed a compact system to extract water from the atmosphere using adsorbent materials.
It is a device capable of extracting water from the air, even in arid areas. These materials capture these water molecules and, by means of heat, release them in a liquid state. This process is efficient, fast and succeeds in producing drinking water anywhere and under any circumstances. Clearly, this could solve global water access problems.
How to extract water from the atmosphere and meet the daily demand?
The technology uses aluminum fumarate, which, by passing air through special panels, traps water molecules. Nathan Ortiz, co-author of the study, points out that the surface area of these materials is so large that even one gram can be the size of two soccer fields. This allows for massive water capture, making the system a viable solution for producing water on demand, especially in field situations.
This technology was intended for military applications, but it also has great potential for civilian use. According to the researchers, it could meet the daily drinking water needs of an average household, estimated at between 15 and 20 liters. The current prototype can generate up to 5 liters of water per kilogram of adsorbent material per day.
An outstanding feature of this device is its ability to operate without reliance on solar power, which eliminates the need for batteries and reduces the weight and space required for operation.This eliminates the need for batteries and reduces the weight and space required for operation. This water harvesting system uses a simple camping stove for the heating phase, quickly releasing the water and facilitating its condensation at room temperature.
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Source and photo: attheu.utah.edu
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