# US 2024/0200310 A1 · Atmospheric water harvesting composite foams, and systems and methods for fabrication and use thereof

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- Number: US 2024/0200310 A1
- Document ID: US20240200310A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/543,576
- Filed: 2023-12-18
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16
- Applicants: University of Maryland, College Park
- Inventors: Teng LI; Bo CHEN; Shuangshuang JING
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200310A1

## CPC

- E03B 3/28: from humid air (condensing of vapours in general B01D5/00; dehumidification of air for air-conditioning F24F3/14)
- B01D 53/02: by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography {(solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01)}
- B01D 53/26: Drying gases or vapours
- B01D 53/261: {by adsorption}
- B01D 53/263: {by absorption}
- B01D 53/28: Selection of materials for use as drying agents
- B01D 2257/80: Water
- Y02A 20/00: Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A system can employ an atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) composite. The AWH composite can include a foam and a plurality of deliquescent particles. The foam can include an organic polymer. The foam can have pore size of at least 1 μm. The deliquescent particles can be disposed on internal surfaces of the foam. The deliquescent particles can be formed of one or more hygroscopic materials. In operation, the AWH composite can be provided in an atmosphere having a relative humidity, such that water in the atmosphere is captured by the AWH composite. The captured water can be released by heating the AWH composite.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
an atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) composite comprising:
a foam comprising an organic polymer, the foam having pore size of at least 1 μm; and
a plurality of deliquescent particles disposed on internal surfaces of the foam, wherein the plurality of deliquescent particles is formed of one or more hygroscopic materials.

### Claim at position 2

2-3. (canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein some of the deliquescent particles are nanoparticles having a size less than or equal to 500 nm, and others of the deliquescent particles form a dendritic structure having a size greater than or equal to 1 μm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pore size of the foam is in a range of 25-500 μm, inclusive.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the AWH composite further comprises a plurality of water-soluble polymer particles disposed on the internal surfaces of the foam.

### Claim at position 6

7-8. (canceled)

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the AWH composite further comprises a plurality of carbon-based particles disposed on the internal surfaces of the foam.

### Claim at position 8

10-12. (canceled)

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the foam has been carbonized.

### Claim at position 10

14-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a water bottle, wherein the AWH composite is configured to be inserted into the water bottle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the water bottle comprises:
a heating system configured to heat the AWH composite within the water bottle or a refrigeration system configured to cool at least part of the water bottle; and
an electrical power source operatively coupled to the heating or refrigeration system.

### Claim 18

A method comprising:
immersing at least part of a foam in a solution comprising a plurality of deliquescent particles, the plurality of deliquescent particles being formed of one or more hygroscopic materials, the foam comprising an organic polymer and having a pore size of at least 1 μm; and
after the immersing, drying the foam to form an atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) composite,
wherein, after the drying, the plurality of deliquescent particles are disposed on internal surfaces of the foam.

### Claim at position 14

19-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein, after the drying, some of the deliquescent particles are formed as nanoparticles having a size less than or equal to 500 nm, and others of the deliquescent particles form a dendritic structure having a size greater than or equal to 1 μm.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein, during the immersing, the pore size of the foam is in a range of 25-500 μm, inclusive.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the solution further comprises a water-soluble polymer, and the AWH composite further comprises a plurality of particles formed of the water-soluble polymer disposed on the internal surfaces of the foam.

### Claim at position 18

24-25. (canceled)

### Claim 26 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the solution further comprises carbon-based particles, and the AWH composite further comprises a plurality of the carbon-based particles on the internal surfaces of the foam.

### Claim at position 20

27-28. (canceled)

### Claim 29 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein:
the organic polymer comprises nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC);
the foam further comprises graphite; and
the method further comprises, prior to the immersing:
combining 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMPO) oxidized NFC with graphite flakes in solution;
subjecting the solution of NFC and graphite to ultrasonication to form a slurry;
casting the slurry into a predetermined shape; and
drying the cast slurry to form the foam.

### Claim 30

(canceled)

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising, after the drying to form the foam and prior to the immersing, heating the foam to carbonize at least a portion thereof.

### Claim 32

A method comprising:
providing an atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) composite in an atmosphere having a relative humidity, such that water in the atmosphere is captured by the AWH composite; and
after the providing, releasing the captured water from the AWH composite by heating the AWH composite,
wherein the AWH composite comprises a foam and plurality of deliquescent particles,
the foam comprises an organic polymer and has a pore size of at least 1 μm, and
the plurality of deliquescent particles is disposed on internal surfaces of the foam and is formed of one or more hygroscopic materials.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein:
the heating comprises directing solar radiation onto the AWH composite;
the heating comprises heating by a fire; or
the heating comprises using a heating system thermally coupled to the AWH composite to increase a temperature of the AWH composite.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising:
cooling at least a portion of a container in which the AWH composite is disposed using a refrigeration system thermally coupled to the container so as to condense the released water.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising:
after the providing and prior to the releasing, inserting the AWH composite into a portable water bottle or other fluid container.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the providing and the releasing are such that the AWH composite:
absorbs at least 100% of its weight in water at 90% relative humidity;
provides a water uptake capacity at saturation of at least 0.9 g/g at 30% relative humidity;
provides a water uptake speed of at least 0.2 g/g per hour at 30% relative humidity; or
any combination of the foregoing.

### Claim at position 29

37-47. (canceled)