Experimental validation of a MIL ‐101(Cr)/ethanol solar adsorption ice maker under real semi‐arid field conditions

Low access to power in underdeveloped nations causes ~30% food loss, creating urgent demand for decentralized refrigeration. We present a solar adsorption ice maker using MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework and ethanol as a novel working pair. MIL‐101(Cr) exhibits an exceptional BET surface area of 3312 m 2 /g and total pore volume of 2.15 cm 3 /g with hierarchical micro/mesopore structure, outperforming conventional activated carbons. Adsorption equilibrium data were accurately fitted by the Dubinin–Radushkevich equation (X 0 = 1.558 kg/kg, D = 2.31 × 10 −6 K −2 , AAD = 1.44%). A flat‐plate solar collector (1 m 2 aperture) was designed, fabricated, and tested through 85 field experiments in Mosul/Iraq during summer months, representing semi‐arid climatic conditions. Two ethanol‐to‐adsorbent mass ratios (0.9 and 1.3 kg/kg) were evaluated at two evaporator pressures (3 and 5 kPa). Under optimum conditions (0.9 kg/kg, 3 kPa), the system condensed 0.832 kg ethanol, maintained sub‐zero evaporator temperatures for 7.2 h, achieved a maximum COP of 0.641, and produced 2.65 kg ice/day representing 165% higher ice production and 49.1% higher COP versus the benchmark NORIT PK1/methanol system. This electricity‐free, low‐cost technology shows strong potential for food and vaccine refrigeration in off‐grid semi‐arid communities.