Foto: Screenshot
Clean drinking water is not a given for more than two billion people worldwide. The supply is becoming increasingly critical, especially in regions with poor infrastructure or frequent droughts. Researchers see the atmosphere as a largely untapped resource, as it contains more water than all the rivers on Earth combined. Two students at Münster University of Applied Sciences have now developed a device that converts humidity into drinkable water – with the help of 3D printing.
The “Water from Air” project was conceived by Louisa Graupe and Julika Schwarz. The prototype consists of a portable container equipped with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs are highly porous materials made of metal ions and organic ligands. They can absorb and release large amounts of water molecules. When in use, the MOF material is placed in the lid. This remains open for an hour to absorb moisture. The container is then closed, causing the moisture to condense and be collected as distilled water.
Under optimal conditions – 80 percent humidity, 500 grams of MOF – the prototype achieves approximately 500 milliliters of water in two hours. Extrapolated, this corresponds to up to six liters per day. For practical use, the device has a valve and a small tap. Since MOFs hardly absorb any pollutants from the air, no additional filtering is required.
A combination of different 3D printing processes was used to construct the prototype. The water container was manufactured using the FDM process with transparent PETG, which is considered food-safe. Colored PETG components complement the system. The developers used SLA printing for the lid and housing, while the carrying strap and valves are made of silicone. The modular design makes it easy to replace and customize individual parts.
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