Our atmospheric water generator extracts water directly from the air, even in environments with very low humidity. This technology is designed primarily for communities affected by drought and lacking reliable access to drinking water. However, it also has potential applications in agriculture, industry, landscaping, and sustainable architecture.
The key component is a hygroscopic biocomposite comprised of an interpenetrating polymer network sourced from plants. Our green chemistry approach differs from other atmospheric water generators that feature non-sustainable synthetic polymers and metal-organic frameworks. The biocomposite is composed of two polymers, a hydrophilic polymer and a temperature-responsive polymer. The hydrophilic polymer absorbs water vapor. The temperature-responsive polymer repels water when heated, causing the compound to desorb water vapor.
In our device, air is drawn into a chamber containing the hygroscopic biocomposite, which absorbs water vapor from the air. Once saturation is reached, the chamber is closed and the polymer compound is warmed, prompting it to release water vapor as a dense fog. This vapor is directed to a condensation surface, where it changes into liquid water for collection or use.
Multiple absorption and desorption cycles are continuously performed to optimize water generation. Our initial prototype, about the size of a toaster, produced some very promising results in the lab. We are now building a new prototype (TRL4) that produces a liter of water per day. In the next development phase (TRL5), our aim is to create multiple devices capable of generating many liters of water per day, installed in various arid environments.
In addition to portable devices, we are exploring other applications within the built environment for our atmospheric water generator, such as integration into brise-soleil systems, rooftop units, and greenhouse systems.