لخّصلي

If one day an extra-terrestrial civilization ever visited us, it would probably decide that human beings are a study in contrasts: more than 3,6 billion people all over the world already own a smartphone, while some 2.2 billion still don't have access to potable water in their homes.The proposed system includes the use of carbon paper evaporators and condensers made of a material called polydimethylsiloxane, which even in full sunlight emit more energy than they absorb, reducing the temperature below the dew point to achieve vapour condensation.Credit: THE PHOTONICS LAB AT UW-MADISON One example is the solution created by engineers Qiaoqiang Gan, from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and Zongfu Yu, from the University of Wisconsin, and developed through their startup company Sunny Clean Water.La tecnologia aporta soluciones innovadoras para el problema del aguaResearchers tested their water condenser in direct sun atop UW-Madison buildings.

If one day an extra-terrestrial civilization ever visited us, it would probably decide that human beings are a study in contrasts: more than 3,6 billion people all over the world already own a smartphone, while some 2.2 billion still don’t have access to potable water in their homes. But despite the paradox, cutting-edge technology and a resource as basic as clean water are not so far apart today; in fact, the former is managing to provide innovative solutions so that the latter can be more accessible in many places in the world where it is still not possible to open a tap and drink.

Currently, there are numerous technological proposals to expand access to drinking water, but they are often expensive or too complex for easy use on the ground. We review here some of the most recent and promising innovations.

VAPOUR CONDENSATION
Solar distillers for water purification have been used in the Americas since pre-Columbian times. The technique is simple: water is evaporated using solar energy and the vapour is condensed on a surface to collect the clean water. Today’s technology is providing solutions to this age-old method that improve its performance and efficiency.

La tecnología aporta soluciones innovadoras para el problema del aguaResearchers tested their water condenser in direct sun atop UW–Madison buildings. Credit: THE PHOTONICS LAB AT UW–MADISON
One example is the solution created by engineers Qiaoqiang Gan, from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and Zongfu Yu, from the University of Wisconsin, and developed through their startup company Sunny Clean Water. The proposed system includes the use of carbon paper evaporators and condensers made of a material called polydimethylsiloxane, which even in full sunlight emit more energy than they absorb, reducing the temperature below the dew point to achieve vapour condensation.