在瑞典，一部能夠從浸滿汗水的衣服上提取出安全純凈飲用水的汗水提取機(jī)進(jìn)入了人們的視線。這部機(jī)器通過(guò)高速旋轉(zhuǎn)和加熱待提取的衣服，從而使汗水變成蒸汽與衣物分離，再經(jīng)過(guò)一層特殊設(shè)計(jì)的過(guò)濾網(wǎng)，讓水分子得以通過(guò)，而細(xì)菌、衣物纖維等物質(zhì)被隔離開(kāi)來(lái)，如此就提取到了據(jù)稱比當(dāng)?shù)刈詠?lái)水還要清潔的飲用水。這部機(jī)器為聯(lián)合國(guó)兒童基金會(huì)設(shè)計(jì)，旨在讓人們認(rèn)識(shí)到世界上還有7.8億人口仍然面臨干凈飲用水短缺的問(wèn)題。該機(jī)器亮相以來(lái)，已有超過(guò)一千位哥德堡市民喝過(guò)“別人的汗水”。

汗水提取機(jī)的設(shè)計(jì)者表示，該機(jī)器的原理類似于國(guó)際太空站的尿液凈化循環(huán)系統(tǒng)，但造價(jià)卻低廉很多。不過(guò)，該項(xiàng)設(shè)計(jì)的局限在于，產(chǎn)出的水量太少。正常情況下從一件汗?jié)竦腡恤上所提取出的汗水只夠轉(zhuǎn)化成10毫升飲用水，僅夠“喝一口”。此次活動(dòng)組織方負(fù)責(zé)人表示，汗水的供應(yīng)量永遠(yuǎn)都跟不上人們對(duì)飲用水的需求量，解決飲用水短缺的問(wèn)題可能有別的更好的辦法，比如水凈化藥劑。

The sweat-extraction machine was developed to promote a campaign by Unicef in Sweden

A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden.

The device spins and heats the material to remove the sweat, and then passes the vapour through a special membrane designed to only let water molecules get through.

Since its Monday launch, its creators say more than 1,000 people have "drunk other's sweat" in Gothenburg.

They add the liquid is cleaner than local tap water.

The device was built for the United Nation's child-focused charity Unicef to promote a campaign highlighting the fact that 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water.

The machine was designed and built by engineer Andreas Hammar, known locally for his appearances on TV tech show Mekatronik.

He said the critical part of the sweat machine was a new water purification component developed by a company named HVR in collaboration with Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology.

"It uses a technique called membrane distillation," he told the BBC.

"We use a substance that's a bit like Gortex that only lets steam through but keeps bacteria, salts, clothing fibres and other substances out.

"They have something similar on the International Space Station to treat astronaut's urine - but our machine was cheaper to build.

Volunteers have been sampling the treated sweat since the start of the week in Gothenburg

"The amount of water it produces depends on how sweaty the person is - but one person's T-shirt typically produces 10ml [0.3oz], roughly a mouthful."

The kit has been put on show at theGothia Cup - the world's largest international youth football tournament.

MattiasRonge, chief executive of Stockholm-based advertising agency Deportivo - which organised the stunt - said the machine had helped raise awareness for Unicef, but in reality had its limitations.

"People haven't produced as much sweat as we hoped - right now the weather in Gothenburg is lousy," he said.

"So we've installed exercise bikes alongside the machine and volunteers are cycling like crazy.

"Even so, the demand for sweat is greater than the supply. And the machine will never be mass produced - there are better solutions out there such as water purifying pills."

(Source: BBC News)

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