Abstract: Water is collected from the air inside bubbles that contain salt to lower the vapor pressure of water. This reduced pressure inside the bubbles causes water to diffuse through the bubble walls until the relative humidity inside the bubbles reaches its dew point. When the dew point is reached the moisture condenses and drains out of the bubbles. After several cycles of collecting the water following the condensation, the water being released is essentially pure. The bubbles are formed from the water soluble cellulose derivative, methyl carboxymethyl cellulose. The relative humidity appears to not play a significant role in the amount of water collected. Methyl cellulose has been approved as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration.

Abstract: A solid methyl cellulose desiccant wherein from about 0.6 to 1.8, preferably 0.9 to 1.5 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose units of the cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl, or methyl and hydroxyl alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups, if any, containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, e.g. hydroxy ethyl, hydroxy propyl, carboxyl methyl and the like. In the solid methyl cellulose desiccant, at least one of the substituting groups must be methyl, with the remainder of the substituting groups, if any, hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl, or both; preferably carboxy methyl, if any. At least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and preferably at least two-thirds of the substituting groups are methyl; the balance of the substituting groups, if any, being hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups.

Abstract: A solid methyl cellulose desiccant wherein from about 0.6 to 1.8, preferably 0.9 to 1.5 of the available hydroxyl groups of the anhydroglucose units of the cellulose entity have been replaced by methyl, or methyl and hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups, if any, containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, e.g. hydroxy ethyl, hydroxy propyl, carboxyl methyl and the like. In the solid methyl cellulose desiccant, at least one of the substituting groups must be methyl, with the remainder of the substituting groups, if any, hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl, or both; preferably carboxy methyl, if any. At least one-half of the substituting groups are methyl, and preferably at least two-thirds of the substituting groups are methyl; the balance of the substituting groups, if any, being hydroxy alkyl or carboxy alkyl groups.