Work

LiCl@AC Composites for Atmospheric Water Harvesting: Effect of the Salt Content

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Freshwater scarcity is a global challenge that poses a serious threat to human survival. Composites of porous materials and hygroscopic salts are emerging as promising candidates for sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting as a method to supply fresh water. In this study, activated carbon (AC) with well-developed porosity was used as a platform and impregnated with different loadings of the hygroscopic salt LiCl to enhance water sorption capacity. The morphological, thermal, physicochemical, and textural properties of the resulting composites were analyzed, along with their water sorption performance under various relative humidity (RH) levels and their cycling stability. The results showed that the composite with 30 wt. % LiCl loading (30LiCl@AC) exhibited the highest water uptake, even under low RH conditions. This sample achieved a water uptake of 0.48 g/g at 60% RH (e.g., average humidity in the Mediterranean region) and 25 °C, which was 5 times higher than that of pristine AC. The enhancement in water uptake could be attributed to the synergistic interaction between the hydrophilic active sites of the hygroscopic salt and the hydrophobic surface of the AC. Cyclability test for adsorption and desorption revealed that the minimum regeneration temperature required was 80 °C.

Source: ACS Omega

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c06858

Authors: Sonia Judith Segovia-Sandoval, Antonio García-Ripoll, Judit Farrando-Perez, Coset Abreu-Jauregui, Joaquin Silvestre-Albero

Institution: University of Alicante

Language: English

Topic: Adsorption and Cooling Systems

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Clean water and sanitation, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,935