A sorbent created using biomass that can pull drinkable water out of thin air. (University of Texas at Austin)
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed an innovative system that transforms natural waste materials—such as discarded food scraps, stray branches, and seashells—into a powerful tool for extracting drinkable water from the air.
This breakthrough system, known as molecularly functionalized biomass hydrogels, converts organic materials into sorbents, substances that effectively absorb moisture from the atmosphere. When combined with mild heat, these sorbents can generate gallons of clean water, even in arid environments with low humidity.
This is similar to the technology developed by Watergen, an Israeli company specializing in generating water from the air. Established in 2009, Watergen’s technology extracts water from the air by enabling the air to move fast into the patented Genius system in a significantly short time, ensuring greater efficiency and thus using less energy. The firm already implements its tech around the world.
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With regards to the new tech from the University of Texas at Austin, by utilizing sustainable and biodegradable materials, this cutting-edge technology offers a potential solution for water scarcity, making it a game-changer for drought-prone regions and off-grid communities.
“With this breakthrough, we’ve created a universal molecular engineering strategy that allows diverse natural materials to be transformed into high-efficiency sorbents,” said Guihua Yu, a professor of materials science and mechanical engineering and Texas Materials Institute at UT Austin. “This opens up an entirely new way to think about sustainable water collection, marking a big step towards practical water harvesting systems for households and small community scale.”
In field tests, the researchers generated 14.19 liters (3.75 gallons) of clean water per kilogram of sorbent daily. Most sorbents can generate between 1 and 5 liters per kilogram per day.
The new research was published in Advanced Materials.
Researchers have developed a novel sorbent design, moving beyond the conventional “select-and-combine” method. This innovative molecular strategy allows for the transformation of virtually any biomass into a highly effective water harvester. Unlike traditional synthetic sorbents, which rely on petrochemicals and energy-intensive processes, this biomass-based hydrogel, created by the UT Austin team, is biodegradable, scalable, and requires minimal energy for water release. The key to this breakthrough lies in a two-step molecular engineering process that equips biomass-based polysaccharides, like cellulose, starch, or chitosan, with both water-attracting (hygroscopic) and heat-responsive (thermoresponsive) properties.
“At the end of the day, clean water access should be simple, sustainable, and scalable,” said Weixin Guan, a senior doctoral student and the study’s lead researcher. “This material gives us a way to tap into nature’s most abundant resources and make water from air—anytime, anywhere.”
