You can’t survive on air alone, but advancements in technology are challenging that notion by enabling the generation of energy and food from the air we breathe. A new domestic device showcased at CES now offers the ability to extract drinking water from the air. Access to clean drinking water is a critical issue facing humanity, and this innovative technology aims to tackle it on a smaller scale, similar to how desalination plants address the scarcity of drinkable water on a larger industrial level.
What are the common methods for obtaining drinking water?
While fresh water from rain, rivers, and aquifers represents only a small portion of Earth’s total water supply, a majority of water is either saline or contaminated, making it unsuitable for consumption. The most common strategies for obtaining drinking water include:
- Potabilization: This process involves treating fresh water from natural sources such as rivers or reservoirs through methods like chlorination and filtration to remove impurities, ensuring it is safe for human consumption.
- Desalination: Technologies like reverse osmosis are used to remove salt and contaminants from seawater, making it suitable for irrigation and drinking. Desalination plants play a crucial role in arid and coastal regions, with some of the largest facilities located in the Arabian Peninsula.
- Condensation: Various technologies can harvest water from atmospheric moisture, although the yield may be lower compared to other methods. Atmospheric water generators, like water harps used in the Canary Islands, can extract significant amounts of water from the air.
Harvesting water from the air at home
While obtaining drinking water in domestic settings can be challenging, a new device unveiled at CES offers a solution by utilizing condensation to generate up to ten liters of drinking water per day from the air. This device functions like a water dispenser found in offices but without the need for a water tank or connection to a water supply, making it an efficient and self-contained appliance that produces clean drinking water.
The device uses a silica gel-like desiccant to capture moisture from the air, along with filters to purify the air and features for heating or cooling the water based on user preferences. The resulting drinking water has a pH of 9.2+ and is free from 99.9% of germs thanks to ultraviolet rays. Additionally, the system helps reduce indoor humidity levels, minimizing the risk of mold and respiratory issues.
Extracting food and fuel from the air
In addition to obtaining water from the air, various technologies enable the extraction of essential ingredients and raw materials. Some notable examples include:
- Synthetic food: A Finnish startup has produced synthetic protein using carbon dioxide and hydrogen from air, which could potentially be used to feed astronauts on long space missions.
- Plastics production: Carbon dioxide can be converted into ethylene through artificial photosynthesis to create polyethylene, a widely used plastic material.
- Confectionery ingredients: Technologies exist to produce sodium bicarbonate from carbon dioxide, a key component in baking, showcasing the potential to derive functional ingredients from the air.
- Mineral rocks: Industrial processes like mineral carbonation utilize carbon dioxide to combat climate change, with facilities in Iceland already implementing this method effectively.
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