Dune Still Suit a step closer

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**Wolfstan**

From the BBC news site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23360907

Machine turns sweat into drinking water for Unicef
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.
Moist cyclists
The machine was designed and built by engineer Andreas Hammar, whose previous tech projects have included a dress that displays tweets.
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.
"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 the Gothia Cup - the world's largest international youth football tournament.
Mattias Ronge, 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."

**Wyrmalla**

I wouldn't drink it over regular water, but I can believe that this kind of thing could have practical situations past the squeamish. Whether this kind of thing would be socially accepted would be questionable, unless there was in fact a dire need for water and these suits were available wide enough to put a dent in the crisis. However, though these were developed by a charity to help children dying of thirst and the like, I would imagine, for the cost/availability, that they might see more use by private contractors or the like in arid areas instead. That is if these were practical enough/ again acceptable for their use by soldiers or the like. =P

**Wolfstan**

You only have to take a look at the SAS desert missions from WWII to see that such a suit would be of benefit to special forces.

**Grey Templar**

Seems a little bulky for special forces to tote about.

And I'd like to see how much actual water it saves vs what is lost through sweating. Doesn't seem like it would be enough to justify an expensive machine.

A urine purifier would be more useful IMO.

**Avatar 720**

The article itself states the machine will never be mass-produced, since water purifying tablets are cheaper. I'd assume the armed forces would have the same view, especially when you add replacement machines and maintenance into the overall cost.

**Ratbarf**

If they could miniaturize it though and put it into a suit like device ala dune it would cut down on how much water you would have to carry with you. Also, it notes that a similar process is used to purify urine, and I would assume it could be readily adapted and they just didn't feel like asking people to drink other people's piss.