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Wang M, Liu E, Jin T, Zafar SU, Mei X, Fauconnier ML, De Clerck C. Towards a better understanding of atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 250:121052. [PMID: 38171174 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.121052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology is an emerging sustainable development strategy to deal with global water scarcity. To better understand the current state of AWH technology development, we conducted a bibliometric analysis highlighting three water harvesting technologies (fog harvesting, condensation, and sorption). By comprehensively reviewing the research progress and performing a comparative assessment of these technologies, we summarized past achievements and critically analyzed the different technologies. Traditional fog collectors are more mature, but their efficiency still needs to be improved. External field-driven fog harvesting and active condensation need to be driven by external forces, and passive condensation has high requirements for environmental humidity. Emerging bio-inspired fog harvesting and sorption technology provide new possibilities for atmospheric water collection, but they have high requirements for materials, and their commercial application is still to be further promoted. Based on the key characteristics of each technology, we presented the development prospects for the joint use of integrated/hybrid systems. Next, the water-energy relationship is used as a link to clarify the future development strategy of AWH technology in energy driving and conversion. Finally, we outlined the core ideas of AWH for both basic research and practical applications and described its limitless possibilities for drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation. This review provides an essential reference for the development and practical application of AWH technologies, which contribute to the sustainable utilization of water resources globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglu Wang
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; AgricultureIsLife, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Liege University, Passage des Déportés 2, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
| | - Enke Liu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; State Key Laboratory of Hulless Barley and Yak Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Lhasa, Tibet 850002, China.
| | - Tao Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Hulless Barley and Yak Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Lhasa, Tibet 850002, China
| | - Saud-Uz Zafar
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xurong Mei
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Marie-Laure Fauconnier
- Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Molecules, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Liege University, Passage des Déportés 2, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
| | - Caroline De Clerck
- AgricultureIsLife, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Liege University, Passage des Déportés 2, Gembloux 5030, Belgium
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Nguyen LT, Bai Z, Zhu J, Gao C, Zhang B, Guo J. Elastic Textile Threads for Fog Harvesting. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:9136-9147. [PMID: 35849073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The potential applications of textile materials in fog harvesting have long been demonstrated. This work designed novel fog harvesters according to the distinct features of elastic textile threads (ETTs) to enhance droplet capture, large-droplet growth, and droplet pouring and improve fog harvesting efficiency. We prepared m@ETTs (modified ETTs) using three novel chemical and physical methods. First, we prepared spandex elastic threads with a non-uniform rough surface containing silica nanoparticles and titanium particles through the sol-gel triethoxymethylsilane method. Second, we prepared a rubber/polyester thread with a rough surface by breaking the thread shell with toluene solution, creating knots on the surface of the rubber core. Third, we prepared a polyurethane thread with a bumpy superhydrophobic surface by spraying a tetrafluoroethylene adhesive and silica nanoparticles on the thread. Furthermore, we connected ETTs to an automatic stretching-recovery system to obtain auto-ETTs as another group of harvesters. We obtained auto-i@ETTs by introducing elastic bumps/knots onto the auto-ETT surface. The fog harvesting efficiencies of m@ETTs were approximately 60-120% greater than those of the ETTs. The water harvesting rate of the auto-i@ETT was 2.5 times that of the ETT, with the highest water harvesting rate of auto-i@ETT reaching 3.35 g/h/cm2. Moreover, several novel principles of droplet behavior and thread elasticity were revealed. The elastic elongation level of the ETTs was proportional to their water harvesting efficiency. The stretching-recovery state of the elastic thread did not influence the water contact angle but affected the droplet state on the thread surface. The temporary slack/stick state of adjacent elastic threads on auto-ETTs contributed to droplet convergence and pouring. Overall, this novel approach demonstrates the significant potential of elastic threads in fog harvesting applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc The Nguyen
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Zhiqing Bai
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jingjing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Can Gao
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jiansheng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
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Knapczyk-Korczak J, Stachewicz U. Biomimicking spider webs for effective fog water harvesting with electrospun polymer fibers. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:16034-16051. [PMID: 34581383 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr05111c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fog is an underestimated source of water, especially in regions where conventional methods of water harvesting are impossible, ineffective, or challenging for low-cost water resources. Interestingly, many novel methods and developments for effective water harvesting are inspired by nature. Therefore, in this review, we focused on one of the most researched and developing forms of electrospun polymer fibers, which successfully imitate many fascinating natural materials for instance spider webs. We showed how fiber morphology and wetting properties can increase the fog collection rate, and also observed the influence of fog water collection parameters on testing their efficiency. This review summarizes the current state of the art on water collection by fibrous meshes and offers suggestions for the testing of new designs under laboratory conditions by classifying the parameters already reported in experimental set-ups. This is extremely important, as fog collection under laboratory conditions is the first step toward creating a new water harvesting technology. This review summarizes all the approaches taken so far to develop the most effective water collection systems based on electrospun polymer fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak
- AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Urszula Stachewicz
- AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
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Kowalski NG, Shi W, Kennedy BS, Boreyko JB. Optimizing Fog Harps. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:38826-38834. [PMID: 34342968 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c08995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
It has recently been demonstrated that harps harvest substantively more fog water than conventional mesh nets, but the optimal design for fog harps remains unknown. Here, we systematically vary key parameters of a scale-model fog harp, the wire material, wire pitch, and wire length, to find the optimal combination. We found stainless steel to not only be the best hydrophilic wire material but also nearly be as effective as Teflon-coated wires. The best choice for the wire pitch was coupled to the wire length, as the smallest pitch collected the most water for short harps but was hampered by tangling for taller harps. Accordingly, we use an elastocapillary wire tangling model to successfully predict the onset of tangling beyond a critical length for any given wire pitch. Combining what we learned, we achieved a water harvesting efficiency of 17% with an optimized stainless-steel harp, over three times higher than that of the current standard of a Raschel mesh. These results suggest that an optimal fog harp should feature high-tension, uncoated wires within a large aspect ratio frame to avoid tangling and promote efficient and reliable fog harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Kowalski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Weiwei Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Brook S Kennedy
- School of Architecture and Design, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Jonathan B Boreyko
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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