2023-08-29 13:02:32
Namib beetle – WIKIPEDIA
MADRID, 29 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Scientists at the University of Waterloo have developed sponges or membranes with a large surface area inspired by beetles or cobwebs They capture moisture from the environment to produce water.
“The spider’s web is a marvel of engineering,” he said. it’s a statement Professor Michael Tam, University Research Professor in the field of functional colloids and sustainable nanomaterials. “The water is efficiently captured by the web. The spider doesn’t need to go to the river to drink, as it traps moisture from the air.”
Similarly, beetles in the Namib Desert do not have easy access to water, but obtain it from the air by leaning into the wind to catch water droplets from the mist with their textured armor. This allows moisture to collect and drip into their mouths.
Professor Tam and his research group are engaged in biomimetic surface engineering for sustainable water harvesting. A technology that Tam is designing is called atmospheric water collection. To mimic the beetle’s unique surface structure, Tam’s research group is engineering a similar surface structure using a cellulose-stabilized wax emulsion to fabricate surfaces that they attract small droplets of water while rapidly releasing larger ones.
Tam is working with net zero carbon materials, such as natural and plant-based materials, to develop sustainable technologies. His research group is developing technologies that capture and repel water droplets by harnessing the power of interface science and nanotechnology. He has successfully developed superhydrophobic and waterproof paper. He is also designing a smart, adjustable surface that captures water from the air and dehumidifies it with minimal energy consumption.
The next step is to develop a scalable process for designing those surfaces.
Solar evaporation systems directly collect solar energy, absorbing water and generating fresh vapor collectable through evaporation. The unique mushroom-shaped structures inspired clever biomimetic structural designs for solar evaporation.
The proposed freshwater generation systems are economical, energy efficient and environmentally friendly, the authors stress.
#beetle #inspires #method #obtain #water #air