Transient behavior of non-toxic natural and hybrid multi-layer desiccant composite materials for water extraction from atmospheric air

Producing clean water via renewable solar energy and available low-cost natural resources is one of paramount issues for the near future sustainable cleaner production theme to promote civilization. This work investigates the transient behavior of a solar-driven clean water extraction system from air by various desiccant natural and hybrid composite materials. Different single composite desiccant materials, hybrid single composite desiccant material, and hybrid multi-layers composite desiccant materials were examined using an efficient design of a solar glass box with four glass faces and square base setup. Nine different single composite desiccant materials were compared for water production from atmospheric air considering jute, wool, cotton, and maize starch host materials. The effect of CaCl₂ solution concentration on the hybridization of such materials was also investigated to examine and optimize their water productivity efficiency. Thirteen hybrid multi-layer starch-based composite desiccant material types were utilized. Different layer combinations and weight percentages of hybrid composite desiccant materials were optimized based on the performance in the single hybrid composites stages including wool/CaCl₂/starch, jute/CaCl₂/starch, and cotton/CaCl₂/starch. Results have indicated that the transient behavior of water productivity of composite desiccants increased as the wool percentage by mass in the composite has been increased. The transient behavior of water productivity of both single and hybrid multi-layer composites reached its maximum at 1:00 o’clock PM. The quality of extracted water was analyzed using total dissolved solids (TDS) test and found to be within the excellent category of clean water suitable for human being. Water generated from the samples that contain only natural fibers and starch was the cleaner and non-toxic.