Sustainable freshwater production using sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting: Sorbent materials, system design configurations, thermodynamic models, and future perspectives

Decentralized water production using sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) systems is a rapidly developing technique. However, the current available technology is constrained by trade-offs between freshwater productivity and energy consumption. Addressing the challenge of increasing the capacity of the system is crucial for scaling up sustainable water generation. In this study, the different configurations of the sorption atmospheric water harvesting technologies are systematically reviewed. The study in particular focused on the main factors that affect the SAWH system, namely, the different types of sorbent materials and the various components of system design, including sorbent bed, heating source, and condenser. Furthermore, the energy assessment criteria and thermodynamic modeling of the SAWH systems are also investigated as well to identify the factors affecting energy consumption of the system. Moreover, a comprehensive discussion is presented on SAWH systems, with a particular focus on sorbent materials and system performance, alongside a critical evaluation of the technical characteristics and future perspectives required for scalable implementation. The discussion results highlighted that, the composite materials such as Li-SHC, LiCl@rGO-SA, PAM-LiCl, and BHNC are promising sorbent materials for the SAWH systems. Optimization studies on heat and mass transfer rates have demonstrated that using packed sorbent beds with layered configurations or integrated metallic fins can significantly enhance heat transfer performance in SAWH systems. Additionally, the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar has proven effective in reducing operational costs and minimizing environmental emissions. Hence, this study provides impactful insights, framework recommendations, and future outlooks for SAWH systems, which might considerably influence the deployment of SAWH systems.