“Vienna Chemists Turn Plastic Waste into Molecular Sponges for Atmospheric Water Harvesting” — what this page in the network covers. Researchers at the University of Vienna have developed a method to convert common plastic waste—including packaging, old CDs, and LEGO bricks—into polymer networks that efficiently capture moisture from the air, even in arid conditions. Led by materials chemists Anastasiia Naryshkina, Paul Schweng, and Robert Woodward, the team repurposed discarded plastics into water-attracting adsorbents that release collected water when gently heated, such as by sunlight. Published in Chem Circularity, the study addresses two pressing global challenges: plastic pollution and water scarcity.
By giving plastic waste a second life as an atmospheric water harvester, the innovation could provide a decentralized, low-energy water source for off-grid or drought-prone regions. The process avoids incineration or landfilling, aligning with circular economy principles. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.