A recent study presented an innovative method for harvesting drinking water from the air, using only half the energy required by traditional techniques. A prototype of dehumidifier based on nickel-titaniumwith temperature-sensitive materials, has proven capable of collecting more water in just 30 minutes than conventional devices, with reduced energy consumption.
Globally, more than 2 billion people live without access to safe drinking water, he said John LaRoccoresearcher at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. This device could significantly improve water collection for water-scarce areas:
Water is vital: without it, you cannot survive beyond three days: greater accessibility to drinking water influences aspects such as healthcare, safety and mental health.
Innovative cooling technology and portability
Unlike traditional systems, which are often bulky and wasteful, this prototype adopts the elastocaloric coolinga process that reduces energy consumption and allows for a more compact and portable structure. In fact, the device can be easily transported in one Backpack.
The research, published in the journal Technologiescompared the prototype to desiccant wheel dehumidifiers, devices that retain moisture using hydrophilic materials. In 30-minute tests, the researchers measured energy consumption and water collection capacity. The prototype was found to be best suited to humid conditions such as those in Indonesia, Haiti, the Philippines and Ohio, where natural humidity is optimal for maximizing efficiency.
The water collected by the device is drinkable, but due to the 3D printing materials, it must be filtered to reduce potentially ingestible microplastics. With only 0.5% of fresh water available on the planet and factors such as war, pollution and climate change exacerbating the water crisis, it is essential to find innovative solutions. In this sense, the possibility of collecting water from the air represents hope for marginalized populations, explained Qudsia Tahmina, co-author of the study.
