German scientists develop sponge-like material that can extract 1.7 litres of water from the air daily
Key Points
- Researchers at Kiel University in Germany have developed a porous material that extracts drinking water from airborne humidity.
- One kilogram of the material can reach a capacity to produce an average of 1.7 litres of water daily.
- Outperforming traditional moisture absorbers like silica gel, the new material also shows promise for efficient cooling systems.
- The production cost being between 10.50 and 12.20 euros per kilogram indicates that the technology is suitable for industrial use.
By the Numbers
Scientists from Kiel University have developed an innovative sponge-like material that can obtain drinkable water directly from the humidity in the air. With global temperatures rising and the threat of drought growing steadily, this technology holds the potential to offer a sustainable solution for semi-arid regions facing water scarcity.
The developed composition, named CAU-10-H, was produced using metal-organic frameworks (MOF) to have a highly porous structure. The material's biggest advantage is its ability to retain moisture from the air even at room temperature and a relative humidity of 18%, and release this water through a 60-degree heating process.
In laboratory tests, it was confirmed that each gram of the material can absorb 0.17 grams of water, and one kilogram of the material can produce 1.7 litres of clean water daily. Scientists scaled the production up to an industrial level, reaching up to 30 kilograms, and reduced the material's cost per kilogram to between 10.50 and 12.20 euros, proving the technology's suitability for commercial use.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How exactly does the newly developed material work?
- The material, consisting of metal-organic frameworks (MOF), absorbs moisture from the air at room temperature and releases the trapped water when heated to 60 degrees.
- In which areas can this technology be used?
- In addition to obtaining drinking water in semi-arid climates, it can be used to increase energy efficiency in the cooling systems of facilities such as data centers.
- How costly is this water production technology?
- Analyses estimate that the production cost of the material will range from 10.50 to 12.20 euros per kilogram, making it economically viable.
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