Extracting water from air and reducing humidity are key goals in improving living conditions for people worldwide. Water-absorbing polymers have been instrumental in extracting water from the atmosphere and in dehumidifying air conditioning systems. However, a significant challenge has been making the re-use of these polymers more efficient, particularly in removing the absorbed water. Thankfully, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have now discovered a solution to improve this process.

Typically, we need to heat these polymers to about 100°C to remove the absorbed water, a process known as desorption. However, a breakthrough by Daisuke Ikegawa, a Graduate School of Engineering student, and Professors Arisa Fukatsu, Kenji Okada and Masahide Takahashi, has led to the development of a liquid that absorbs moisture and only requires a temperature of approximately 35°C for desorption.

This significant advancement was made possible by using a mixture of polyethylene glycol, which is excellent at absorbing water, and polypropylene glycol, which is slightly less effective. The variation in their water-absorbing capabilities created a mechanism that disintegrated the water clusters, allowing for easier water release.

According to Dr. Fukatsu, “This technology holds immense potential. It could provide a water source in arid regions and areas with limited energy resources. Furthermore, it could be invaluable in disaster and emergency scenarios when access to water is compromised.”

Professor Takahashi further stated, “We anticipate this technology to contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gases and promoting efficient use of water resources. Our next step is to enhance the liquid moisture absorber and increase the overall system’s efficiency to make it more practical for everyday use.”