Advanced Jacket Harvests Drinking Water from Thin Air

A jacket that creates drinkable water from atmospheric vapor has been developed. This jacket, which engineers at the University of Texas have applied 'AirGel' technology to, offers a sustainable and convenient solution for water-scarce regions. The jacket operates solely on solar energy and can be used immediately where needed.

Researchers explained that the system is portable, modular, and relies only on solar energy, allowing for diverse applications including outdoor activities, household or community needs, and disaster relief. This wearable prototype would be valuable for soldiers spending time in remote outdoor environments or for emergency responders, the researchers described.

Depending on humidity levels, the jacket produced approximately 14 to 30 ounces (about 414ml to 887ml) of water per day. The jacket's fabric absorbs moisture from the air and then releases it when heated by sunlight, after which the water condenses and is collected. Researchers demonstrated that the prototype jacket is a far more compact, efficient, and portable method than traditional box or panel-style water harvesting methods. According to published figures, this represents a three- to tenfold improvement in performance compared to other materials.

The research team has also applied this same technology to separate devices, successfully drawing water from the air in both the hot, arid climate of New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert and Austin's humid environment. Professor Keith Johnston of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at UT's Cockrell School of Engineering, a co-author, stated that the team did not merely create another material that absorbs water. He explained they engineered pathways for water to move rapidly from vapor to liquid and into the fabric, and this transport design allows the material to work not just in small lab tests but also in a wearable system.

'Discovery to Impact,' the University of Texas's research commercialization division, is filing patents for the technology.