It is a device developed by his company Atocoand which can produce up to 1,000 liters of clean water per day, even when the air humidity is less than 20 percent. This innovation opens up new opportunities for regions affected by chronic water shortages.
The technology is based on reticular chemistry, a field developed by Yaghi. At the heart of the system are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – synthetic, porous materials that function like extremely efficient “super-sponges”. These materials are engineered at the molecular level and have a huge internal surface area; a few grams of the substance could cover the inside of a football arena.
When air passes through the device, the MOFs capture water molecules from the atmosphere. After being heated by sunlight or low-energy heat, the material releases moisture in the form of steam, which then condenses into liquid water. Unlike classic atmospheric water generators, which require a large amount of electricity to cool the air, this system works off the grid, using only solar energy.
This technology comes at a time when the United Nations is warning of a “global water bankruptcy”, with more than two billion people without access to safe drinking water. Although desalination is often used in coastal areas, it is an energy-intensive process that creates salty waste that is harmful to marine ecosystems.
Yaghi’s system is a mobile and more environmentally friendly alternative. Units approximately six meters in size, like a shipping container, can be placed on hurricane-stricken islands or in remote desert communities. In the Caribbean, where storms like Hurricane Beryl have damaged infrastructure, such devices could provide an emergency water supply without relying on the power grid.
The motivation for this project for Yaghi also has a personal dimension. He grew up in a Palestinian refugee community in Jordan, in a house without running water. He recalls how the news that a water truck had arrived would cause residents to rush to fill the containers before supplies ran out.
“The science is there, what we need now is the courage to expand these solutions,” he said during a recent field test.
Although the technology is still in the transition phase from laboratory prototypes to industrial production, Yaghi talks about the future of “personalized water”. Just as solar panels enable households to generate their own energy, MOF devices could enable individuals to produce their own drinking water, reducing dependence on centralized and often vulnerable water systems.
Yaghi is one of three winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work on metal-organic frameworks, which opened new directions in the development of clean energy and environmental protection technologies.
(Vijesti.ba)
