Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Omar Yaghi announced the launch of an autonomous water collection device that can produce up to a thousand liters of clean water per day, even in deserts. The innovation is based on the field of reticular chemistry and MOF (metal-organic frameworks) materials, which he discovered. They have an extremely large internal area — a few grams can cover a football field. That is why NASA aims to recycle 98% of water in its life support systems on the ISS and is considering similar solutions for future bases on the Moon and Mars, where delivering water from Earth is an expensive and energy-intensive task.
Yaghi’s machine, created by his company Atoco, fits into a standard shipping container and runs exclusively on solar heat. When air passes through the module with MOF, water molecules are trapped in micropores, after which slight heating releases moisture in the form of vapor, which condenses into pure water. For the first time, a similar device in field tests in Death Valley provided 210–285 g of water per kg of sorbent per day, operating only in sunlight. This result doubled the efficiency of previous passive systems.
Atoco is planning a commercial series of devices: standalone versions will produce up to 1,000 liters of water per day, while network-connected versions will produce between 2,000 and 4,000 liters. According to the UN, more than 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. The size of the generator box and the lack of need for grid electricity allow it to be delivered to isolated communities or islands after hurricanes. Omar Yaghi, who grew up in a refugee camp in Jordan where water was delivered once a week, dreams of accessible water for all — just as solar panels have given people their own electricity.
How does it work? MOFs are crystalline sponges with a structure that Yaghi calls reticular. Air passes through a cartridge containing this material, and water vapor is adsorbed on the inner surfaces. When the frame is heated by the sun or low-quality heat, molecules break away from the pores and turn into saturated vapor; it condenses on the cooled surface, forming water. The cycle repeats without electricity and with rapid regeneration, making the system suitable for both domestic and space use.
Why is this important? The International Space Station has an ECLSS system that recycles 98% of the crew’s water. However, during long expeditions to the Moon or Mars, even a small loss can be critical. Yaghi’s MOF collectors can supplement closed cycles by extracting water from the rarefied atmosphere or regolith. Since the device runs on solar energy and does not require compressors or freon, it is suitable for isolated bases and can provide a backup water source, which increases the autonomy of colonies.
According to theguardian
