Absorb the humidity present in the air and transform it into drinking watertaking advantage of a natural material and the free energy of the sun. It is not science fiction, but the result of a research conducted by Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) In collaboration with the Chinese University of Zhejiang A & F. The project was recently published on Journal of Cleaner Production and has already aroused international attention.
The heart of the invention is a spongy and biodegradable devicebuilt starting from balsa woodmodified to increase its ability to absorb and release water. According to Dr. Derek Hao, the main author of the study, this solution could offer a concrete alternative for billions of people who still do not have access to safe water sources today. A global crisis that causes every year Millions of deaths from diseases related to contaminated water.
That’s why this simple but very powerful innovation could mark a turning point.
From Balsa wood to drinking water
To design the device, the researchers chose the balsa wood For its porous and light structure. Once modified, it has become the nucleus of a spongy composite material capable of capture the humidity present in the air and release it in liquid form. The material is inserted in one Cup closed by a dome -shaped lidequipped with a cooling system and an anti-pollution filter.
To make everything even more innovative is the fact that the activation of the system takes place thanks to sunlight. In practice, the material absorbs humidity when the lid opens and, under the effect of the sun, Release the water collected inside the cup. But not only that: the system can be connected to photovoltaic panels and a thermal batteryso that it can also work in low light conditions or during the night, allowing the Continuous production of water 24 hours a day.
The spongy mixture is enriched with lithium chloride, iron oxide nanoparticles And carbon nanotubeswhich improve the performance of the material in the capture and release of the water. And thanks to artificial intelligence, researchers managed to test and optimize the device in different environmental conditions.
Water collection 24 hours a day, also with low humidity and extreme temperatures
In laboratory tests, the prototype managed to collect Almost 2 milliliters of water per gram of material with a relative humidity of 90%. During the outdoor tests, in real conditions, the device reached the 2.5 milliliters per gram during the night.
Numbers that impress, especially if we consider that the system works effectively in a large relative humidity interval (from 30% to 90%) and temperatures between 5 and 55 degrees Celsius.
According to developers, technology is designed to be scalable, economic, sustainable and easily integrated in different contexts, from private homes to the rural villagesup to humanitarian interventions in the areas affected by natural disasters or droughts.
