Omar Yaghi and team win Nobel Prize for extracting water in Death Valley
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Biotechnology & health research· Prelims·
MOFs and atmospheric water generation: a key GS3 Science & Technology topic for water security.
Why in news
Omar Yaghi and his team won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a device that extracts liquid water from air in extremely arid conditions.
Background
The team used a cylinder containing 35 grams of MOF-303 in Furnace Creek, Death Valley National Park, to extract water from air with 14% humidity. The device operated independently for three complete cycles of night and day without being connected to any external power source.
Facts for Prelims
- S&TMOF-303: A material used in the device to extract liquid water from air.
- FactThe device successfully extracted water from air with 14% humidity.
- PlaceFurnace Creek, Death Valley National Park: The location of the successful extraction experiment.
- PostOmar Yaghi: Saudi national and professor at UC Berkeley who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Prelims practice question
Which material was used in the device to extract liquid water from air in arid conditions?
- (a)Carbon Nanotubes
- (b)Zeolite-X
- (c)Graphene Oxide
- (d)MOF-303
Show answer
Answer: (d) MOF-303 — The note specifies that the team used a cylinder containing 35 grams of MOF-303 to extract water.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how advancements in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) can address global water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Technological scalability: Transitioning from laboratory-scale MOF-303 cylinders to industrial-scale atmospheric water generation.
- Resource equity: Potential for decentralized water access in drought-prone regions without reliance on traditional infrastructure.
Keywords: Metal-Organic Frameworks · Atmospheric Water Generation · Water Scarcity · Sustainable Technology · Nobel Prize in Chemistry
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