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Solid water developed
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Liu Fuzhong
SHENZHEN-BASED Admire Company Ltd has announced its intention to start producing a curious product it describes as "solid water".
According to engineers, the new technology allows the company to turn liquid water into solid blocks without changing its physical attributes; that is to say, without freezing it.
Engineers also say the wet blocks decompose in the soil as micro-organisms set in, releasing water to plants. A one-kilogramme block of water can supply water for a tree for 90 days.
Indeed, the peculiar qualities of this product make it perfect for its intended purpose: to assist in Beijing's afforestation efforts by allowing a steady supply of water to the country's dry hinterland.
According to Chen Tie, vice-president of Admire, the product is 90 times more efficient than irrigation because the water is entirely absorbed by roots.
Experts with the China Forestry University
say that solid water will greatly improve the efficiency of afforestation in western regions where only about 17 per cent of newly planted trees survive.
Chen said the solid water can also be used in offices and households during holidays when no one waters flowers.
Engineers say the core technology of the product is the engineering of a solidifying material. The material can hold water molecules to change it into a solid form. When the material degrades while interacting with micro-organisms in the soil, liquid water is released.
Engineers say one kilogramme of the solid water costs three yuan (US$0.35) while the same product made by US companies costs US$2.
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