Potable water from ambient air using a liquid desiccant system

Overview

This solution addresses global water scarcity by producing potable water directly from ambient humidity using a compact, portable system. Unlike conventional atmospheric water generators that rely on energy-intensive condensation of humid air, this approach uses a proprietary liquid desiccant that absorbs water vapor from the air, even in arid desert conditions. The absorbed water is then released as drinkable water through resistive heating, with no additional purification or disinfection required. The system is designed to operate on a rechargeable battery or solar energy, contains minimal moving parts, and can be scaled from a personal-use device to larger units suitable for single-family homes and small communities. Estimated cost is less than 2 cents per liter of potable water produced.

Technical specifications

• Uses a proprietary liquid material that absorbs large quantities of water from ambient humidity, including under low-humidity desert conditions
• Fast absorption rate enables processing of large volumes of air with a small quantity of liquid
• Water is released through resistive heating of the liquid, producing drinkable water without requiring further purification or disinfection
• Bench-scale tests confirm production of potable water in a compact, portable, rechargeable battery-driven system
• Minimal moving parts improve reliability and reduce maintenance
• Operates on rechargeable battery or solar energy, enabling off-grid use
• Scalable architecture supports personal, household, and small-community applications

Technology readiness level

The technology has been validated at the bench scale, confirming the liquid's ability to produce drinkable water in a compact, portable, battery-driven system. The next phase involves developing a personal-use demonstration model and testing it under varying humidity and operating conditions, with chemical and microbiological analysis to verify water purity. Following this, multiple production models will be distributed to users in several countries for field feedback. Design refinements based on these results will support development of larger-scale systems for single-family houses and small communities.