A new technology for harvesting water from the air using solar energy... How?

2023-12-31 2023-12-31T15:02:22Z

Arabia Weather - A research team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China has created a pioneering technology that allows water to be harvested directly from the air, using humectants that work to attract and absorb water molecules.

These innovations were published in a study published in the journal Applied Physics Reviews on December 5. According to the statement issued by the American Institute of Physics, this new technology is considered simple and inexpensive, making it suitable for widespread use in the field of harvesting water from the air.

Obtaining drinking water thanks to solar energy

Statistics from the American Institute of Physics show that more than 2.2 billion people suffer from water stress, and the United Nations estimates that 3.5 million people die annually from water-related diseases. Since the areas most in need of water are in places with strong sunlight, there is a strong interest in harnessing the sun's energy to provide clean water.

To achieve this goal, a team of researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University created an innovative technology that uses solar energy and relies on gelatinous materials and humectant salts to absorb water from the air. This innovation aims to solve the challenge of obtaining drinking water in dry areas. The head of the research team points out, Ruzhou Wang pointed out that this technology can be used to meet daily water needs, such as drinking water, industrial uses, and personal hygiene.

On the other hand, the American Institute of Physics statement stated that the innovative technology relies on the manufacture of an ultra-moisture gelatinous material, which shows an exceptional ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water.

It shows that one kilogram of dry gel is able to absorb 1.18 kilograms of water in arid weather environments, and this ability reaches 6.4 kilograms in humid weather environments.

The solution is hygroscopicity

A study conducted by a team of researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China has transformed the field of water harvesting, as researchers were able to create a technology based on hygroscopic materials capable of attracting water molecules from the air.

This technology uses materials such as cellulose fibers, sugar, caramel, honey, glycerol , and even salt, etc. The main effectiveness of this technology depends on the hygroscopicity of the materials used, as changes occur in their physical properties when they absorb water molecules, allowing them to be used in harvesting water from the surrounding environment.

By designing a super-hygroscopic gel using plant derivatives and hygroscopic salts, the researchers demonstrated high water absorption efficiency, as one kilogram of dry gel can absorb large amounts, ranging from 1.18 kilograms in arid environments to 6.4 kilograms in humid environments.

This technology holds the promise of providing a simple and inexpensive solution to solve the problem of water stress, especially in dry areas, where harvesting water from the air through this technology is a widely usable resource.

The device model shows high efficiency in water production

In an outdoor demonstration of the innovative device, the research team found that their technology allows the release of adsorbed water, that is, water that has been attracted and absorbed from the atmosphere, even in periods when the sun is weak, such as the morning or afternoon, meaning that the system continues to work. During the day regardless of the strength of solar radiation.

The process of attracting and absorbing water from the atmosphere depends on renewable energy, which allows achieving high water production. The team is currently working on improving the system's performance to achieve practical applications in continuous water generation.

It is worth noting that this technology may play a vital role in future applications, such as dehumidification, irrigation of agricultural crops, and heat management for electronic devices, highlighting the diversity of its potential uses.