NEW DELHI
IIT Delhi is developing an affordable technology for cleaning the air to control pollution. The filters are being produced of Nanofiber, Porous Nanomaterials, or Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF), which can help increase particle filtration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and capture toxic pollutants. The whole process is funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the Indian National Academy of Engineers (INAE).
“At SMITA Research Lab of IIT Delhi, we are developing Nanofibers for particle filtration, Porous Nanomaterials or Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) based filters for VOCs, and toxic pollutant capture,” said Dr Ashwini K. Agrawal, professor, IIT Delhi.
The AQI (Air Quality Status) level in Delhi was 242 on Friday, which is considered poor air quality. Also, the entire state is enveloped in smog. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AQI values between 201 and 300 are very unhealthy. They can trigger a health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects, which concludes that we need such innovation and that it should be widely used.
“Growing awareness of air pollution›s environmental and health consequences may drive demand as more people and businesses prioritize clean air. Government regulations and incentives can also play a pivotal role. If regulations mandate pollution control filters in certain environments or provide incentives for their use, this could make them as common as air conditioning units,” said Prof Agrawal.
Responding to the question on what it will ultimately filter, he said, “Air filtering refers to removing or reducing airborne contaminants like viruses and bacteria; and particles from the air to improve its quality. It removes Particulate Matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).”
There are mainly two types of air pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) . Particulate matter, often called PM, is a type of air pollutant consisting of tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere. Particulate matter is typically classified based on the size of its particles, with the two primary categories being PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, while PM10 includes particles up to 10 micrometers in diameter. PM2.5, in particular, can be inhaled deeply into the respiratory system and often originates from combustion processes, such as vehicle emissions and industrial activities. PM10 includes larger particles and can come from sources like construction dust and natural elements like sea salt and soil particles.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a group of organic chemicals that readily evaporate into the air, and they can significantly impact air quality and human health. Common VOC-based air pollutants include benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, acetone, ethylene glycol, methylene chloride, and perchloroethylene (PCE). These compounds are found in various sources, from vehicle emissions and building materials to household products like paints, glues, and nail polish remover. Long-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues and VOC can increase the risk of cancer. These Nanofiber-based filters have several advantages over the air purifiers available in the market as they remove ultrafine particles like viruses and bacteria, are sustainable, and are pocket-friendly.
“We have developed these technologies by using environmentally friendly and sustainable processes and the operational cost would be lower as these filters would require low power to circulate the air through them. Therefore, these are expected to have reasonably low cost,” said Prof Agrawal.