A composite desiccant material is formed by a porous, absorbent substrate of PVA foam or non-woven fibrous sheet is soaked in a solution of a hygroscopic desiccant such as CaCl2. The desiccant is held in pores or fibrous entraining areas sized ranging from 50 microns to 1000 microns. Thin sheets are arranged in a stack in a multi-chamber system, while in an absorption state, uses this stack in a main chamber to absorb H20 from atmospheric gas flowing through that chamber. In a regeneration state atmospheric flow is stopped and low-grade energy releases the H20 from the desiccant into that chamber. Fans circulate moist air through the main chamber and into an adjacent chamber for H20 transfer through or past a partially permeable barrier into a cooling/condensing area. Both H20 and dry gas may be produced.