Water from dry air, explained.
Arid does not chill air to squeeze out moisture. It uses a class of materials recognized by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to grab water molecules directly, which is why it keeps producing where condensation machines stall.
The material
At the center of every Arid unit is a metal-organic framework, or MOF: a porous crystal engineered at the molecular scale. A single gram holds an internal surface area larger than a football field, and that surface is tuned to hold water molecules even when the air carries very few of them.
MOFs are the class of materials honored by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Arid's framework comes from published, patent-free literature; it is not MOF-303 and carries no licensing entanglement. Our manufacturing partner produces the material at a scale of 100 tons a year, which is real production, not lab batches.
Arid is an independent company. The Nobel Prize recognized the field of MOF chemistry, not any specific product, including ours.
The cycle
A MOF core, gentle heat, and a condenser. The whole thing runs inside a sealed cabinet.
Adsorb
Process air passes across the MOF core. Water molecules are captured in the framework's pores and dry air is discharged.
Regenerate
A gentle, low-temperature cycle releases the captured water from the framework as vapor. The MOF is not consumed and is ready for the next cycle.
Condense
The vapor is cooled and condenses to liquid water, collected in the tank.
Purify
Multi-stage filtration brings the water to about 20 TDS, close to distilled, before it reaches the tap.
Why dry air is the whole point.
Condensation needs humid air. Adsorption does not. That single difference decides which machine works in the places that need water most.
Condensation cooling
Chills incoming air below its dew point so moisture condenses. It needs humid air to work, output collapses below roughly 30% RH, and it burns energy fighting the heat in hot climates.
MOF adsorption
Captures water chemically at the molecular level, independent of dew point. It keeps producing down to 15% RH and does not mind the heat.
Where Arid sits in the market.
The established players are small and premium, just entering commercial deployment, or tuned for humid air. Arid is the low-cost, dry-air option at household and site scale.
| System | Method | Output per unit | Dry air | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arid Home / K-100 | MOF adsorption | 20 / 100 L/day | Yes, to 15% RH | By quote |
| SOURCE hydropanel | Adsorbent, undisclosed | ~13 L/day per panel | Limited | Premium |
| Atoco | MOF-303 | Up to 1,000 L/day | Yes | Facility scale |
| Condensation units | Refrigerant dew point | 20 to 1,000 L/day | Falls off below ~30% RH | $3,500 to $30,000 |
| AirJoule | Desiccant | Pilot scale | Yes | Early stage |
Competitor figures from public materials; approximate and subject to change.
Straight answers.
How much energy does it use?
About 0.85 kW while producing at the rated condition, which works out to roughly 1 kWh per liter. In warm, humid air the unit makes more water for the same power and the figure drops to about 0.5 kWh per liter. On solar the running cost is close to zero.
What happens below freezing?
The current generation operates down to 0°C. Below that it should be powered off and drained. A next-generation unit targeting minus 10°C is in development; it is not required for the markets Arid serves first.
Is the MOF safe and how long does it last?
The framework is a stable, regenerable solid that stays inside the sealed cabinet. It is not consumed; the only scheduled consumable is the filter core, replaced once a year. Service life and core replacement intervals are being confirmed in writing with the manufacturer and will be published with the specification sheet.
Is the water certified?
Factory testing measured about 20 TDS. NSF/ANSI testing at accredited laboratories and UL/ETL electrical certification for the US market are in progress, and US deliveries follow certification.