Those who have taken a road trip through the Southwest know that it is a very unique desert region, scattered with extraordinary canyons and lofty plateaus. As with any arid region, rainfall is scarce and temperatures are sky-high, making droughts inevitable. Thankfully, a bio-inspired film has been engineered by innovative minds, which pulls gallons of water per day by ‘drinking’ air like plants.
Groundbreaking research could change the impact of droughts
The Southwest has been stuck with a megadrought for over two decades, and according to a UCLA study from February 2022, it is the driest it has been in nearly 1,200 years. Thankfully, pioneering research conducted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) will have you singing “Viva, Las Vegas!” in no time. This research has made science fiction a reality by converting low-humidity air into drinking water.
Arizona State University, the University of Utah, and UNLV are allies in the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, a $15 million program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The program addresses the Southwest desert climate obstacles and encourages the region’s economic growth.
Mechanical engineering professor H. Jeremy Cho from UNLV is the research team leader and has captured our wildest imaginations by using an innovative approach to harvest water from the atmosphere. To put it another way, their research explains how to convert the air’s water vapor into something more useful.
Bio-inspired film ‘drinks’ the air like plants
Harvesting water vapor from the atmosphere is hardly a new concept, but current methods result in a meager harvest and losses in humidity conditions below 30%. UNLV’s research and testing found that the pioneering technology and harvesting method are more effective in humidity conditions of 10%. A bio-inspired film harvests water directly from the air as a liquid salt solution. This solution undergoes subsequent conversion into drinking water or energy generation, creating new possibilities for arid, desert regions.
“This paper really establishes that you can capture water at a very fast rate. 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.” – Professor Cho
As mentioned, this pioneering film is bio-inspired and is crucial for harvesting water due to its hydrogel membrane “skin.” Tree frogs and air plants were the inspiration behind the film, as they also use the atmosphere’s water, convert it into a liquid, and store it internally.
Creating more than just drinking water
Water restrictions in drought-stricken regions result in expensive water production. Thankfully, the research also indicates that harvesting water from the atmosphere can be powered by solar energy. Regions such as the Las Vegas Valley have plentiful sun, with nearly 300 days of sun annually. This solar energy is theoretically enough to lower water production fees.
Our water resources are depleting and our planet’s climate is changing. 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.” – Professor Cho
The mechanical engineering professor from the University of Utah, as well as research co-author Sameer Rao, confirmed the importance of their work. According to Professor Rao, their research will open doors to sustained operation and new water production applications. Professor Rao added:
“These innovations are especially critical for the desert Southwest and its sustainability efforts.”
The research is being tested practically by the UNLV start-up, WAVRTechnologies, Inc. Pioneering engineering such as this will bring relief to drought-stricken regions such as the Southwest.
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