Game-Changing Tech Turns Dry Desert Air Into Lifesaving Water

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-10-29 18:32:04 | Updated at 2024-10-30 19:27:16 1 day ago

Game-Changing Tech Turns Dry Desert Air Into Lifesaving Water
Scitech Daily ^ | October 29, 2024 | John Domol, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Posted on 10/29/2024 10:43:41 AM PDT by Red Badger

An early prototype of an atmospheric water harvesting device from H. Jeremy Cho’s lab. Credit: Jeff Scheid/UNLV

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Researchers at UNLV have developed a groundbreaking technology that efficiently extracts large amounts of water from the air, even in extremely low-humidity conditions.

Inspired by natural processes observed in tree frogs and air plants, this technology utilizes a hydrogel membrane and can be powered by solar energy, offering a sustainable water source for arid regions.

Transforming Air Into Water

Turning the air around us into drinking water has long seemed like a marvel, closer to science fiction than reality—especially when it comes to capturing a sustainable amount from dry, low-humidity environments.

However, amid a worsening megadrought impacting water supplies across the Southwest, researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) have developed a groundbreaking technology that can pull significant amounts of water from even arid air. Their findings were published on October 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Advancements in Atmospheric Water Harvesting

Leading this innovative project is UNLV mechanical engineering professor H. Jeremy Cho, who, along with his team, has introduced a fundamentally new approach to atmospheric water harvesting—transforming water vapor in the air into a usable form. Unlike existing technologies, which produce low yields and struggle below 30% humidity, this new method is designed to perform efficiently even in extremely dry conditions.

“This paper really establishes that you can capture water at a very fast rate,” said Cho. “We can start to forecast how big of a system we would need to produce a set amount of water. If I have one square meter, which is around three feet by three feet, we can generate about a gallon of water per day in Las Vegas, and up to three times more in humid environments.”

Nature-Inspired Water Capture

This technology and approach has been tested outdoors in Las Vegas, and is effective down to 10% humidity. It directly captures water in a liquid salt solution that is suitable for subsequent processing into drinking water or energy production, enabling new capabilities for arid regions.

A key ingredient in the process is a hydrogel membrane “skin.” The inspiration for this material comes from nature – specifically tree frogs and air plants, which use a similar technique to transport water from ambient air into a liquid for internal storage.

“We took that biological idea and tried to do it in our own way,” he said. “There are so many cool things happening in nature – you just have to look around, learn, and be inspired.”

Solar Power Enhances Sustainability

Additionally, the research demonstrates that atmospheric water harvesting can be solar-powered. Thanks to the frequent sunlight experienced in places such as the Las Vegas Valley – which averages 300 sunny days a year sunlight can provide enough energy to reduce the theoretical and eventual cost for generating water.

“Our water resources are depleting and our planet’s climate is changing,” said Cho. “To reach sustainability, we have to change our habits. This whole idea seemed like science fiction, but this is possible, and we’re actually doing it.”

Commercial Application of Water Harvesting Technology

The research is already being put into practical use in the form of WAVR Technologies, Inc. Cho co-founded this UNLV startup, making devices capable of capturing water vapor from the air around us for commercial and individual uses.

WAVR is the premiere university business spinoff from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program aimed at bringing to market technologies that address regional sustainability and climate concerns.

Reference:

“High-yield atmospheric water capture via bioinspired material segregation”

by Yiwei Gao, Areianna Eason, Santiago Ricoy, Addison Cobb, Ryan Phung, Amir Kashani, Mario R. Mata, Aaron Sahm, Nathan Ortiz, Sameer Rao and H. Jeremy Cho, 22 October 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321429121

TOPICS: Agriculture; Books/Literature; Food; Gardening
KEYWORDS:

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DUNE!..............

1 posted on 10/29/2024 10:43:41 AM PDT by Red Badger

Guess all they really needed was a droid who could understand the binary language of moisture vaporators, and Threepio stepped up.

2 posted on 10/29/2024 10:45:14 AM PDT by RandallFlagg (Democrats should have been barred from elections since The Battle Of Athens.)

To: Red Badger

Wasn’t that Genesis Effect in Star Trek II?

3 posted on 10/29/2024 10:45:59 AM PDT by Mustangman

To: Red Badger

No real mention of cost.

Sounds as if it may have niche potential. Might be a desert survival tool, but how much energy to obtain useful water from the salt-water which it generates?

4 posted on 10/29/2024 10:47:21 AM PDT by marktwain (The Republic is at risk. Resistance to the Democratic Party is Resistance to Tyranny. )

To: Red Badger

5 posted on 10/29/2024 10:48:06 AM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)

To: Mustangman

In Dune, the Fremen had devices that would collect moisture and dew from the dry Dune air, every drop was precious.

They collected huge masses of water in underground cisterns and qanats.............

6 posted on 10/29/2024 10:49:48 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)

To: Red Badger

I have a sunflower plant that survived very hot dry spells. There are tiny, tiny, thin needles coming out of stalks on the plant. All the boffins gotta do is mimic that.
Another b.s. headline. “TRANSFORMING air into water”..how about “CAPTURING water out of air”?

7 posted on 10/29/2024 10:52:18 AM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)

To: RandallFlagg

They have never heard of a solar still?

8 posted on 10/29/2024 10:55:01 AM PDT by kaktuskid

To: kaktuskid

A solar still draws moisture out of the plants and/or dampness in the soil, not from the air.

9 posted on 10/29/2024 10:58:52 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))

To: Getready

Science and English aren’t requirements of journalism schools..............

10 posted on 10/29/2024 11:03:13 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)

To: Red Badger

I was thinking of moisture farmers; long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

11 posted on 10/29/2024 11:06:11 AM PDT by 31R1O (The people who can control themselves ought to be able to defend themselves from those who can't.)

To: Red Badger

12 posted on 10/29/2024 11:21:10 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Enough of this talk about narcissists, let's get back to talking about me.)

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