Water harvesting from the atmosphere and lowering humidity levels are vital steps toward creating a more comfortable existence for everyone. Water-adsorption polymers have emerged as crucial players in both atmospheric water harvesting and desiccant air conditioning. However, the challenge of efficient desorption for their reuse has persisted.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have now unveiled a method to enhance the efficiency of desorption for these polymers.
Typically, a temperature of about 100°C is necessary to desorb these materials, but Graduate School of Engineering student Daisuke Ikegawa, Assistant Professor Arisa Fukatsu, Associate Professor Kenji Okada, and Professor Masahide Takahashi have developed a liquid moisture adsorbent that requires only around 35°C for desorption.
This achievement was made possible by utilizing random copolymers of polyethylene glycol, which adsorbs water effectively, and polypropylene glycol, which has a slightly lower water absorption capability.
The variation in water-loving properties of these materials generate a transfer mechanism that efficiently breaks down water clusters, allowing for easier release and reabsorption of moisture.
“This technology has the potential to be applied not only to water supply in arid regions and places with limited energy resources but also to ensuring access to water in times of disaster and emergency,” Dr. Fukatsu proclaimed.
“Improvements to this technology are also expected to lead to reductions in greenhouse gases and more efficient use of water resources,” Professor Takahashi added. “From now on, we will aim to improve the liquid moisture adsorbent and increase the efficiency of the entire system in order to make it practical.”
Journal reference:
- Daisuke Ikegawa, Arisa Fukatsu, Kenji Okada, and Masahide Takahashi. Liquid Polyether-Based Water Harvester for Near Ambient Temperature Operation via Hydrophilicity-Difference-Induced Water Transfer. ACS ES&T Water, 2024; DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00775
