Low-Cost Gel Harvests Drinking Water From Dry Desert Air

Sand Desert

Researchers have developed a low-cost gel film that can pull water from the air in even dry climates like the desert.

More than a third of the world’s population lives in drylands, areas that experience significant water shortages. Engineers and scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a unique solution that could help people in these areas access clean drinking water.

The researchers developed a low-cost gel film comprised of abundant materials that can pull water from the air in even the driest climates. The materials that facilitate this reaction cost just $2 per kilogram, and a single kilogram can produce more than 6 liters (~1.6 gallons) of water per day in areas with less than 15% relative humidity and 13 liters (~3.4 gallons) in areas with up to 30% relative humidity.

Water Capturing Film Bag

An example of a different shape the water-capturing film can take. Credit: The University of Texas at Austin / Cockrell School of Engineering

The research builds on previous breakthroughs from the research team, including the ability to pull water out of the atmosphere and the application of that technology to create self-watering soil. However, these technologies were designed for relatively high-humidity environments.

“This new work is about practical solutions that people can use to get water in the hottest, driest places on Earth,” said Guihua Yu, professor of materials science and mechanical engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering. “This could allow millions of people without consistent access to drinking water to have simple, water generating devices at home that they can easily operate.”

The new paper was published on May 19, 2022, in the journal Nature Communications.

Water Capturing Film Shapes

The water-capturing film can easily be molded into many different shapes. Credit: The University of Texas at Austin / Cockrell School of Engineering

The researchers used renewable cellulose and a common kitchen ingredient, konjac gum, as a main hydrophilic (attracted to water) skeleton. The open-pore structure of gum speeds up the moisture-capturing process. Another designed component, thermo-responsive cellulose with hydrophobic (resistant to water) interaction when heated, helps release the collected water immediately so that overall energy input to produce water is minimized.

Other attempts at pulling water from desert air are typically energy-intensive and do not produce much. And although 6 liters does not sound like much, the researchers say that creating thicker films or absorbent beds or arrays with optimization could drastically increase the amount of water they yield.

Process of Creating Water-Capturing Film

The process of creating the water-capturing film from its ingredients. Credit: The University of Texas at Austin/Cockrell School of Engineering

The reaction itself is a simple one, the researchers said, which reduces the challenges of scaling it up and achieving mass usage.

“This is not something you need an advanced degree to use,” said Youhong “Nancy” Guo, the lead author on the paper and a former doctoral student in Yu’s lab, now a postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It’s straightforward enough that anyone can make it at home if they have the materials.”

The film is flexible and can be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the need of the user. Making the film requires only the gel precursor, which includes all the relevant ingredients poured into a mold.

Device for Capturing Water From Air

A prototype device for capturing water from the air using the new film. Credit: The University of Texas at Austin / Cockrell School of Engineering

“The gel takes 2 minutes to set simply. Then, it just needs to be freeze-dried, and it can be peeled off the mold and used immediately after that,” said Weixin Guan, a doctoral student on Yu’s team and a lead researcher of the work.

Reference: “Scalable super hygroscopic polymer films for sustainable moisture harvesting in arid environments” by Youhong Guo, Weixin Guan, Chuxin Lei, Hengyi Lu, Wen Shi and Guihua Yu, 19 May 2022, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30505-2

The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and drinking water for soldiers in arid climates is a big part of the project. However, the researchers also envision this as something that people could someday buy at a hardware store and use in their homes because of its simplicity.

Yu directed the project. Guo and Guan co-led experimental efforts on synthesis, characterization of the samples, and device demonstration. Other team members are Chuxin Lei, Hengyi Lu, and Wen Shi.

9 Comments on "Low-Cost Gel Harvests Drinking Water From Dry Desert Air"

  1. Very Interesting.

    1. Such a Low Cost Gel would solve the water problem in places like Mumbai where there is 85% humidity all year round and such humid weather is is quite common.

    2.Especially if this low Cost Gel can be recycled.

    3.All Coastal City’s will have a perpetual source of pure fresh water obtained from air without having to be piped in from nearby lakes or water sources and then purified at home before drinking it again.

    4.If solar power can be concentrated to increase evaporation rates from the Oceans using the Ocean winds for converting salty Ocean Water to Drinking Water.

    5.Wind , Sun and Sand (Silicon) is not just for beach bums, but using technology can ban thirst from the planet.

    6. Makes water on demand a plausible reality for all humans and all creatures if we can industrialize and scale up the process.

    7.First step in banishing hunger from the face of the earth.

    Views expressed are personal and not binding on anyone.

  2. Frank Fontaine | May 30, 2022 at 6:12 am | Reply

    The stress reduction of available, cheap drinking water will induce cultural growth and development commonly…

  3. … good…

  4. We’ve wasted and continue to waste and pollute our ground water so instead of protecting it we just forge ahead taking water from the air and sea and think those acts will have no adverse effects on our planet?

    • Eva,

      The water vapour in the air can be used to restore ground water resources as well. Gel based replenishment technology’s.

      If the Gel is recyclable and can be used on a industrial scale we could also have a viable technology solution for agriculture , with drip irrigation from known water sources and Gel based water technology from the humid atmosphere.

      Views expressed are personal and not binding on anyone.

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  6. That idea has been debunked so many times.

  7. General Paresis | May 31, 2022 at 12:46 pm | Reply

    I have tertiary syphilis.

  8. Love this!!! I have some questions:
    1. Size & Placement: What size (like a bath towel, bedsheet, side of a barn…?) is 1 kg of gelatin? Where does it have to be placed (up high, across a windy area…? )
    2. Uses: Can this be used as well to:
    * Restore ground water resources?
    * Crop irrigation?
    * Watering lawns, gardens, golf courses…?
    3. Safety: Will the water ALWAYS be safe to drink? What conditions are required (or must be avoided) to ensure safe water?
    4. Environmental Impact: What impact will taking water from the air have on the environment? On my immediate area (less dew so less birds…)? Any adverse effects on our planet? What if everyone uses it at home + industries on an industrial scale, will we change our ecosystem? Long terms effects of large-scale, worldwide use?
    5. Extraction: what is the process to extract/harvest the water from the water-filled gel? Does it fall into a bucket placed below? Do I wring & squeeze it out?
    6. Reuse & Replace: how many time can I reuse it? What is its estimated useable life before I have to replace it with a new one? Once used up, how do I recycle it?

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