Artificial gills extract oxygen from water

An Israeli scientist has developed an "artifical gill" that is able to extract oxygen from seawater, potentially allowing divers to breathe underwater without a tank. However, many details still remain to be worked out before the device is suitable for regular underwater use. The device, called LikeAFish, lowers the pressure of seawater using a high-speed centrifuge. Oxygen is then separated from the water and stored in a bag for breathing. While the system may be a technical breakthrough, it imposes its own limits on divers, including the need for a heavy-duty battery and confidence that the water being processed isn't polluted or lacking in oxygen. For those reasons, the developer, Alon Bodner, is focusing much of his efforts on underwater habitats, theorizing that they would already have a reliable energy source, and would be located in spots where the oxygen levels in the water are consistent.

[Via the Raw Feed]

[scoyle17 @ Jan 31st 2006 5:14PM]

Maybe they could use some kind of hydroelectric generator powered by the swimmer to power the system

[Joe Strout @ Jan 31st 2006 5:49PM]

I doubt hydrogen is a by-product; it's pulling out dissolved oxygen, not splitting water molecules.

I also doubt that a swimmer could power a manual generator fast enough to generate oxygen as fast as he breathes it.

However, it's a very cool breakthrough anyway. I think it will find its way into the equipment of technical divers, who can use it to top off their tanks. Of course, the gas we breathe isn't mostly nitrogen anyway, so you'd need a way to scrub the CO2 out, in order to put the water-extracted O2 in and recycle the rest of the gas. This will take time... but it's great to see development finally happening. I've been waiting for this for decades!

[CarrerCrytharis @ Jan 31st 2006 5:52PM]

No, this extracts dissolved oxygen -- it doesn't electrolyze the water itself.

[Brandon @ Jan 31st 2006 5:54PM]

LOL, what a great creative name :)

[Arcturus @ Jan 31st 2006 5:59PM]

I don't think hydrogen would be a byproduct of this. #2 is thinking of electrolysis. I believe that this process would simply extract O2 that is dissolved in the water (kinda like microscopic air bubbles), as opposed to breaking down the water. However I wonder if it would be feasible to use a tank of hydrogen and the oxygen from the process in a fuel cell to power the process. Actually now that I think of it kind of sounds like a waste of hydrogen.

[Evan @ Jan 31st 2006 6:31PM]

ever notice Israeli inventors always come up with great ideas that "need working out"? Israeli "inventors" are famous for coming up with great ideas, getting investors and moving to Bangkok with the investment money. There is an old saying about making money in Israel: If you want to leave Israel with a million bucks, start with two million.

[Mike @ Jan 31st 2006 7:06PM]

The only problem with this solution is that it alters the ambient O2 level in the water. This may not sound like much, but depeding on the rate at which this can extract O2, that could slightly to strongly alter the ecosystem in the imediate area. Electrolysis would be much better suited for an underwater platform of any kind. The hydrogen could be used for fuel as well. Or even better, algea.

[Justin @ Jan 31st 2006 8:43PM]

FINALLLLYYYY!

[IseWise @ Jan 31st 2006 10:08PM]

ITS ABOUT DAMN TIME SERIOUSLY! I cant count many times I have dreamt about how awesome this would be!!!

[Iddo Genuth @ Feb 1st 2006 2:53AM]

This is old news - we published this story a year ago including a flash presantation and an interview with the inventor:
http://www.isracast.com/tech_news/310505_tech.htm

We are working on a follow up that will reveal the latest work of Mr. Bodner this summer.

[Iddo Genuth @ Feb 1st 2006 2:55AM]

sorry, here is the right link:
http://www.isracast.com/tech_news/310505_tech.htm

[Griffon @ Feb 1st 2006 3:10AM]

A number of the engineers on our local dive alias spent some time having fun at this.
The short answer was it's BS, you would do better trying to sew gills to your skin :).

[Richard @ Feb 1st 2006 9:53AM]

Disturb to Oxygen balance in the water Mike (#8)! How do you think fish respire? Perhaps we should kill all of them because thier Co2 - O2 exchange through gills disturbs the O2 balance?

[Willy @ Feb 1st 2006 10:01AM]

Over on Divester, we've been following this story since June (http://www.divester.com/2005/06/07/more-on-bodners-tankless-scuba-system/) and named it as one of our Top 10 Waterproof Tech Items of 2005 (http://www.divester.com/2005/08/05/top-10-waterproof-tech-items/).

Generally, the biggest concern is that the unit is battery operated, and battery-technology hasn't caught up with Bodner's imagination. In other words, the battery Bodner proposes to use drains after an hour. Who cares how much oxygen you can squeeze out of the ocean, because after an hour you STILL have to surface to change batteries.

In the meantime, this application is better suited to underwater habitats, and it will be tested for the first time, under "real conditions" this August, in Lloyd Gibson's BioSUB project (http://www.divester.com/2006/01/23/lloyd-godson-and-the-biosub/).

[ikkedus @ Feb 1st 2006 1:20PM]

I suppose two strips of velcro are included so the incubator/tubing/contrivance/thing can be strapped on top of your head?

[Gregg @ Feb 2nd 2006 1:34AM]

I'd be more worried about this thing outputting Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO)

[Not so gullable @ Feb 15th 2006 8:09PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_monoxide

[Adam @ Feb 17th 2006 4:12PM]

Umm yeah... it's called elektron on the ISS, been used for years

[Adam @ Feb 17th 2006 5:35PM]

Isn't it the way of things? First, it's "impossible" then it's working in a big, clumsy system that needs a lot of power and ideal conditions, then suddenly a decade passes and there's a version sitting there as a temptation for an impulse purchase next to the cash register at the gas station.

I tend to think that extracting oxygen from water should be a catalytic process, not a mechanical one. And who the hell is going to trust their life to a battery cell when they need to decompress or die?

I still think it could be good to carry just enough air or "mix" for the decompression and rely upon this for a long, comfortable dive.

I guess it could be a great little device to add on to those submarines that require the rider to bring their own SCUBA.

I just like the idea of a small tank and mini reg so I can body surf and swim under any size wave without being worried about holding my breath past 30 seconds during strenuous exertion.

[Jude @ Mar 19th 2006 5:35PM]

In response to Greg's posting on Feb. 2nd 2006, DHMO is an acronym for Dihydrogen Monoxide which is H20...water. Dont let pranksters keep you from investigating real alternatives to our energy concerns.

[Leeroy @ Nov 12th 2007 11:02PM]

This system like all systems need a recycled energy source to atleast be considered capable of being produced , it also needs a compact and less robust design so it can be used properly. The making of co2 into carbon monoxide and oxygen using solar energy and catalists could help this energy source and oxygen be recycled,to help add to the bulk of the production. In all if this design is capable of doing as it says its atleast a stepping stone to a potentialy grand invention.