As a severe megadrought puts pressure on the water supply across the Southwest, innovative research is tackling this issue with an exciting new technology that safely extracts significant amounts of water from the air, even in low-humidity conditions.
The concept of transforming the air we breathe into drinking water is astonishing in itself. The idea of extracting a functional amount of this water from arid environments has often seemed more like fantasy than reality.
Research from UNLV, published on October 22 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), is addressing the water shortages caused by megadroughts in the Southwest.
Leading the effort is mechanical engineering professor H. Jeremy Cho, who heads a team finding a novel method for atmospheric water harvesting—converting water vapor into usable water. Traditional techniques for harvesting atmospheric water are often ineffective, especially in environments with humidity levels below 30%.
“This study shows that we can efficiently capture water at a rapid rate,” Cho explained. “We can predict how large a system we would need to produce a specific volume of water. For instance, a setup occupying one square meter—which is about three feet by three feet—could yield around a gallon of water each day in Las Vegas and even three times that in more humid conditions.”
This new technology has proven successful during outdoor testing in Las Vegas, functioning effectively even when humidity drops to 10%. It captures moisture in a liquid salt solution, making it suitable for later conversion into drinking water or for energy use, thus enhancing capabilities in dry areas.
A vital component of this process is a hydrogel membrane “skin,” inspired by natural elements like tree frogs and air plants, which utilize methods to draw water from the surrounding air into a liquid form for storage.
“We took inspiration from nature and attempted to replicate that approach,” Cho said. “There’s a wealth of fascinating processes occurring in nature—it’s about observing, learning, and finding inspiration.”
The research also highlights that atmospheric water harvesting can utilize solar energy. In sun-drenched locations like the Las Vegas Valley, which enjoys about 300 sunny days each year, solar power can significantly decrease the costs associated with producing water.
“Our water supplies are diminishing, and climate change is affecting our planet,” pointed out Cho. “Achieving sustainability means altering our habits. This concept once felt like science fiction, but it is indeed achievable, and we are making it happen.”
This research is being transformed into actionable applications through WAVR Technologies, Inc., a startup co-founded by Cho. This company designs devices capable of capturing moisture from the air for individual and commercial purposes. WAVR is the first university business spinoff from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program, aiming to introduce technologies that address sustainability and climate-related challenges to the market.
