“Water Hungry” Regenerated Cellulosic Films and Fiber-Webs for Atmospheric Water Harvesting and Seawater Desalination

Abstract

Freshwater scarcity in arid regions is a serious issue currently, owing to the frequent variations in global climates, such as the Colorado River ongoing drought in 2026. Delignified wood and regenerated cellulose-based porous film and fiber web materials for sustainable atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) and seawater desalination techniques have potential to alleviate the freshwater scarcity crisis, while the continuous and large-scale manufacturing of these advanced cellulosic materials has some technical limitations. This editorial focuses on cellulose wet-screw extrusion-casting, blowing, and spinning techniques, which integrate with coagulation baths, to continuously large-scale manufacture regenerated cellulose-based porous films and fiber webs or nonwovens for the AWH and seawater desalination to regenerate freshwater. As an advanced large-scale manufacturing technique, melting extrusion 3D printed artificial wood- or natural fiber-based complexly structured bio-composite materials mimicking the artificial forests can further enhance AWH and seawater desalination techniques. These advanced cellulosic materials offer potential solutions to alleviate the scarcity of freshwater in arid regions and contribute to the drip irrigation-based sustainable agriculture.