Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a biodegradable biomass-based hydrogel that can efficiently extract drinking water from the air. As reported by IZ with reference to Scitechdaily, this innovative technology could become a reliable solution for providing water to remote communities, farmers and during emergencies.
The basis for creating the hydrogel was food waste, branches, shells and other natural materials. The system uses sorbents that absorb liquid, and only a small amount of heating is required to obtain water. Field tests have shown that the hydrogel can produce up to 14.19 liters of clean water per kilogram of sorbent per day, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of synthetic analogues.
This technology offers a new approach to creating sorbents. Instead of using synthetic materials and significant energy consumption, the researchers used biomass and minimal heat. The hydrogel is obtained through a two-step molecular engineering process that gives the material hygroscopic properties. Unlike traditional methods, the new approach allows you to turn almost any biomass into an effective tool for collecting water from the air. This opens up prospects for the implementation of water harvesting systems in households and for small communities.
The team is currently focused on scaling up production and developing real-world devices, including portable water collectors and autonomous irrigation systems. The engineers aim to make the technology accessible to remote regions and in emergency situations. The use of cheap and readily available materials, combined with minimal energy requirements, makes this development promising for mass adoption.
We remind you that we previously wrote that the Chinese telescope will become a competitor to James Webb.