Water is vital for the development of all biological processes. Even so, at present, 2.2 billion people do not have access to a safe water supply. This situation has generated problems of health and development in these communities. So then, to provide a sustainable resource of freshwater for these communities, novel supported adsorbent materials based on non-porous silica impregnated with hygroscopic salt of calcium chloride at 30% by weight were developed, arranged in an efficient, easy-to-use and economical device. This increase in adsorption capacity represents a difference of up to 1316% in the adsorption of water per gram of sorbent under conditions of relative humidity of 70%. The adsorption-desorption models generated yields close to 69% in environmental conditions of Santa Fe-Antioquia with a RH between 52-74%, adsorption temperature of 27°C and desorption temperature of 33°C. For its part, the yield was higher than 62.8% in environmental conditions of the Tatacoa-Huila desert. Thus, this research opens a promising panorama for the generation of fresh water from the dehumidification of the air in semi-desert and desert areas.

Nanomaterials for freshwater production from air dehumidification in desert zones

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