Changing Air Pollution Into Oxygen
Air pollution-related factors contribute to over 5.5 million deaths each year. It can affect children, pregnant mothers, and the quality of life in general. However, not much has been done to reduce pollution or limit the amount of damage done every year.
Changing the pollution back into breathable oxygen is a viable solution that has occupied scientists worldwide for years. These scientists have come up with several ways to capture the pollution in the air and convert it back into pure, breathable oxygen.
Applying these solutions can take two forms. First, the solution can be put into use at homes where the concentration of carbon dioxide can get to dangerous levels. These home air purification systems use live algae to change the CO2 in your home into O2. Second, the solution can be implemented in urban areas where most people live and work. Delivering Cleaner, more breathable air to people every day can be a great way of reducing the harmful effects of pollution on populations.
Algae
Algae is one of the most resilient plant types in existence. It can live in the harshest of environments where there is not enough air, sunlight, or water to grow. What’s more, algae can easily and freely change air pollution into oxygen.
The algae used in the following projects are genetically enhanced to have a higher oxygen production rate and survive a harsher environment. What’s more, the algae is grown in special tubes that protect them from contamination, evaporation, and other threats.
The only things algae need to grow are water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. The rest is done automatically by this miraculous plant. The photosynthesis rate in algae is much more than in trees because the exposure surface in algae is much more than in trees. Let’s not forget that the growth rate of algae is much higher than that of trees.
BioUrban
BioUrban is a perfect mixture of algae and artificial intelligence. BioUrban is also called an artificial tree that can be installed in intersections and polluted areas of cities to help reduce air pollution. The system is comprised of several water-filled algae tubes and an AI system. The AI system is equipped with several sensors that measure the amount of CO2 in the air.
The amount of air pollution in the air determines the amount of CO2 the algae get. The more CO2 in the atmosphere, the faster the algae would grow. The excess algae can be used as biofuel and several other algae-related products.
BioUrban is designed in a start-up company called BiomiTech. This company has currently installed three BioUrban trees in different cities in South America as well as several ones in Europe. This four-by-three-meter tree can get 2,890 breaths of pure molecular oxygen into the air, equivalent to 368 real trees.
The Aerium
The Aerium is a home purification system that uses algae to absorb carbon dioxide, pollen, dust, and other allergens from the air. The algae are suspended in a tube of distilled water. The carbon dioxide enters the tube through the bottom; then, the fresh O2 enters the room after passing several filters.
The algae have to be changed every two months. Therefore, you can add a monthly subscription to your purchase. The company sends you new algae and liquid algae food along with several new filters every month.
The purification power of the Aerium is equal to 25 house plants. Also, it comes with an LED light which helps the algae grow even when there is no sunlight around. The Aerium is made in a company called AlgenAir. This company is based in Maryland, USA.
C2CNT process
C2CNT process works with molten electrolysis to change CO2 into other material. C2CNT process is, to some extent, similar to the process of making aluminum. And since the consumption of CO2 in this process is significantly high, it is best used at the exhaust chambers of factories and power plants.
What’s more, the C2CNT process has two highly important by-products: nanocarbon tubes and pure oxygen. In fact, the anode and cathode used in the electrolysis process each gather one of these by-products.
The nanotubes produced in the C2CNT process are many times stronger than steel tubes. Also, they are exponentially lighter and conduct electricity much more efficiently. Therefore, the nanotubes themselves are highly sought-after materials as well.
Before this technology was introduced, manufacturing nanotubes was a highly costly process which made it impossible to use in many industries. The C2CNT process, on the other hand, can make nanotubes accessible to many people in various industries.
C2CNT process is patented by a team led by Dr. Stuart Licht. Dr. Licht believes that for every metric ton of CO2 absorbed, one ton of nanocarbon tube would be produced. The main investor in this project is currently Capital Power. Capital Power is an independent Canadian company that generates more than 2,600 megawatts of power in 24 facilities across North America.
Conclusion
New technologies that change air pollution into breathable oxygen are not only going to make a real difference in the future of the Earth. They are also going to form a massive industry in the near future. Most of these technologies are currently in investment and research phases. However, with proper investment and support, these industries will be an essential part of our world in the future.
