Water scarcity is a critical issue, affecting over two billion people worldwide. To address this, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan have developed a groundbreaking liquid moisture adsorbent that simplifies water extraction from the air.

Traditional water-adsorbing polymers require heating to 100 degrees Celsius to release water, making the process energy-intensive. The new material, however, releases water at just 35 degrees Celsius.

The Japanese scientific team achieved this breakthrough by combining polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, two effective adsorbent substances. The interaction between these polymers creates a mechanism that breaks down water clusters, allowing easier extraction of the liquid.

“This technology can be applied to water supply in arid regions, disaster relief and areas with limited energy resources,” explained study co-author and assistant professor, Arisa Fukatsu.
Project leader and professor, Masahide Takahashi, further elaborated: “Improvements to this technology are also expected to lead to reductions in greenhouse gases and more efficient use of water resources.”

The technology’s implications are vast, enabling atmospheric water harvesting and humidity control in a sustainable manner. The researchers aim to further refine the adsorbent and system efficiency for widespread practical use.

As global temperatures rise and populations grow, this low-energy solution offers hope for sustainable water management, particularly in regions where fresh water is scarce.

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