Metal-organic framework (MOF) designed by Massachuset Institute of Technology, Boston has given details on an innovation of a machine making water from air using solar energy. It works at a minimum of 20 % humidity. According to the Science Journal, the machine has a battery that is capable of recharging from the solar panel and produce 2.8 liters of water in 12 hours.
The paper written said it was the innovation was overdue for a long time as per the Scientist of the University of California. The device can operate in most dry areas where the humidity remains above 20%. More water can get produced with the bigger installation.
Photo Source: Dainik Bhaskar
The MOF got invented 20 years ago, and about 200000 such prototypes are in use all over the world. All the machines made for different purposes the MOF MIT is different from others.
The solar -powered instrument is a welcome change and a break through to generate water from the dry air in the atmosphere. The only limitation is that humidity of air should be at least 20% at any time.
The scientist Omar Yaghi invented the metal-organic frameworks way back in mid-1990. The structure is made up of porous crystalline sponges where the dry air retained, stored, condensed and finally drains out the clean water.
Photo credit: Michael Barnes/ UC Berkeley
It is demonstrable to show that MOFs are rigid porous constructed and made up combine metals having organic molecules. They can retain gasses and liquids. Yaghi and the team could amalgamate a large pore MOF made up of zirconium metal and adipic metal. On raising the temperature, the MOF releases the real water.
Together with Mechanical Engineer Evelyn Wang from MIT they published the paper with a demonstration in 2014. In the desert-like dry weather having 20 to 30 % of humidity and by taking 1 kilogram of the MOF, 2.8 liters of water got produced in just 12 hours.
The invention has got thoroughly explained in April 14 issue of the journal Science. Commercial use of the device is in the offing and very soon will become standardized. The modern dehumidifiers use electrical energy to operate. That does not solve the problem of water-scarce places. More energy gets consumed in their operations. The assistance got provided by Dept of Energy or ARPA-E Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. The home scale device will satisfy all. Note that MOFs also store gasses like methane and capture carbon dioxide from flue gasses.
