Scientists made an ultra-black wool. And it turns saltwater into drinking water
The natural biodegradable material, which costs less than $1 for a piece the size of a sheet of paper, could provide an purification for vulnerable communities.
Scientists have created an ultra-black wool fabric that can turn saltwater into drinking water using only sunlight. This new material, made from commercially available white merino wool dyed with a light-absorbing polymer, is 100% natural, biodegradable, and costs less than conventional desalination methods.
The specially dyed wool reflects less than 0.5% of visible light and absorbs near-infrared light, which is then converted into heat by the polymer. This process causes the saltwater to evaporate, leaving solid impurities behind. The water produced by the ultra-black wool exceeds both World Health Organization and Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standards.
Professor Larissa Shepherd, lead researcher from Cornell University, explains that this low-cost and simple solution could provide off-grid water sources for vulnerable communities that don't have access to conventional infrastructure. The researchers have already tested the material outdoors in Ithaca, New York, and it performed well on water three times saltier than seawater. They plan to test its performance on brackish groundwater and wastewater next.
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