Working toward Improved Chemical Covers for Water Conservation: A Laboratory-scale Assessment of Antievaporative Lipid Films.

The devastating effects of drought are expected to increase as a result of the global climate change. This poses growing challenges related to water conservation and efficient consumption. Improved chemical covers designed to mitigate water evaporation from reservoirs and open water bodies represent a potential countermeasure in water conservation. In this work, we set out to perform a laboratory-scale assessment of the possibility to develop improved chemical covers based on antievaporative lipid films featuring O-acyl-ω-hydroxy-fatty acids, fatty alcohols, wax esters or their combinations. We utilized a Langmuir trough experimental setup in order to assess film structure, spreadability and evaporation resistance. Moreover, we were able to tailor compositions which show superior antievaporative properties compared to current state-of-the-art solutions. Altogether, the work generates a solid foundation for the future design of improved chemical covers for water evaporation mitigation.