A group of scientists from MIT has made a discovery that could solve the problem of water scarcity in arid regions. The new MIT invention uses metal-organic frameworks (so-called MOFs) to extract water from desert air and operates on solar energy.
Although there has been a possibility of collecting water from the air before, the efficiency of these devices largely depended on humidity levels. Unlike traditional systems that require over 50 percent humidity, cooling systems, pumps, and compressors that demand additional energy and maintenance, MIT’s invention can condense water from the air at humidity levels as low as 10 percent and is powered by a solar cell, reports TNW.
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The scientists tested the idea on the roof of the University of Arizona and proved that the concept works. They claim that the device could produce more than a quarter of a liter per day per kilogram of MOF. MOF is a porous crystalline powder that forms 3D networks that can be configured to bind specific gases. In the previously proposed concept, they allowed air to pass through a layer of MOF during the night. The next morning, the heat of the sun would cause the water to evaporate from the MOF, which would then be condensed and collected without any impurities.
Researchers are currently trying to increase the efficiency of the invention. If successful, the world could have the opportunity to collect 13 trillion liters of water, which is estimated to be present in the atmosphere at any given moment. This figure is equivalent to approximately 10 percent of the freshwater in lakes and rivers worldwide.
