Not only does this system work at lower humidities than dew harvesting does, but those systems require pumps and compressors that can wear out, said Rao.Current methods for extracting water from air require much higher levels - 100 per cent humidity for fog-harvesting methods, and above 50 per cent for dew-harvesting refrigeration-based systems, which also require large amounts of energy for cooling.The system, based on relatively new high-surface-area materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), can extract potable water from even the driest of desert air, with relative humidities as low as 10 per cent, they said.
The device has been field- tested in the very dry air of Tempe, Arizona, confirming the potential of the new method, the researchers said."The current version can only operate over a single night-and-day cycle with sunlight, Kim said but "continuous operation is also possible by utilising abundant low-grade heat sources such as biomass and waste heat.Researchers, including Sameer Rao from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, have now proved that such an extraction system can work. Even in the most arid places on Earth, there is some conical twin screw barrels Suppliers moisture in the air and extracting it could be a key to survival.Whereas the team had previously described the possibility of running the system passively, Rao said, "now we have demonstrated that this is indeed possible.Even in the most arid places on Earth, there is some moisture in the air, and a practical way to extract that moisture could be a key to survival in such bone-dry locations.The test device was powered solely by sunlight, and although it was a small proof-of-concept device, if scaled up, its output would be equivalent to more than a quarter-litre of water per day per kilogramme of MOF, they said.
The new system, described in the journal Nature Communications, could potentially fill an unmet need for water even in the world's driest regions, researchers said. It can be operated in a completely passive manner, in places with low humidity but large amounts of sunlight," he said. (Photo: Pixabay) Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have developed a new device that can harvest drinkable water right out of the driest of desert air.The test device was powered solely by sunlight, and although it was a small proof-of-concept device.With an optimal material choice, output can be as high as three times that of the current version, said Hyunho Kim from MIT."This has no moving parts