Irvine startup pulls water out of the air
Irvine-based startup Atoco has developed an atmospheric water harvester utilizing metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) to extract over 1,000 gallons of clean water daily from the air. This technology is being considered for use in data centers and other critical infrastructure to address water scarcity and reduce reliance on strained local water systems. A competitor, AirJoule Technologies, is also developing similar MOF-based solutions.
Atoco, an Irvine-based startup founded by Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi, has developed an atmospheric water harvester using metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) that can produce over 1,000 gallons of clean water daily. The technology, which silently attracts and stores water molecules from the air in porous nanocrystalline structures, offers a decentralized water source, akin to solar panels providing energy independence.
CEO Samer Taha notes the rising interest in such solutions due to the vulnerability of centralized water systems, exacerbated by conflicts and climate change-induced water scarcity globally and in the U.S. The shipping container-sized machines are slated for production later this year and are designed for installation at critical infrastructure sites, including data centers and hospitals, as well as remote communities.
Professor Yaghi emphasizes the goal of water independence by harnessing an infinite resource from the air. The article highlights that data centers, which require pure water for cooling and manufacturing, face increasing pressure in water-stressed communities. Atoco's and similar technologies, like that from competitor AirJoule Technologies (a joint venture with GE Vernova), are seen as particularly relevant for alleviating strain on public water systems in the U.S. by providing an independent source of pure water.