Water Out of Thin Air

 By Israel Abel Adame

Image of polluted atmospheric humidity being collected, filtered, and made drinkable (source: Levana Public School https://levanapublicschool.com/harvester-pulls-record-amount-of-drinking-water-out-of-thin-air/)

Harvesting fog water may not be a new concept to mankind. However, the researchers in this article were not only able to harvest the fog water with great efficiency but also removed pollutants from it. This technology can make the idea of having a sustainable, clean water supply for those living in areas where there is none a reality. The unique aspect of this research is the coatings that were added to the wire mesh harvester. The coatings that the researchers engineered, were chemical coatings that break down molecules when exposed to light, one hydrophobic and the other hydrophilic. These coatings have nanoparticles of TiO2 and other compounds that can break down organic compounds in the water such as diesel. The ability to harvest fog water and degrade the pollutants within with great efficiency can advance environmental sustainability by allowing us to provide drinking water without overusing lakes and rivers and by removing the pollution that exists in the air. If this technology can be used on a large scale, water can be provided to those in rural areas where water may not be available. This could help reduce or eliminate the pollution caused by large vehicles that have to deliver this necessity while at the same time removing what is already there.   

Ghosh R, Baut A, Giorgio Belleri, Kappl M, Butt H-J, Schutzius TM. 2023. Photocatalytically reactive surfaces for simultaneous water harvesting and treatment. Nature sustainability. 6(12):1663–1672. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01159-9.

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