Bio-based contraption absorbs harmful air pollutants

Graduates of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in India have created a device that promises to reduce air pollution at traffic signals.

Shailee Jain and Palvi Raikar’s device MossThatch has been showcased at the Car Cycle and Bike Expo, and has been found to efficiently absorb harmful air pollutants such as heavy metals and remove oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The device has both absorption and adsorption features, which facilitate physical and biochemical absorption.

Jain said in the Indian Express: “The device will absorb the harmful vehicular Particulate Matter (PM) and will reduce air pollution that affect cardiovascular and respiratory system. It is a simple, low maintenance and affordable car accessory that can be easily assembled on a car top, giving the car a green look.”

The engineers intend to spread awareness about the device presently, and will not commericalise it until a later date. This will allow them time, and possibly additional funding to add extra features and gather user inputs.

India has recently been found to have the worst air quality in the world by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities, beating its neighbour China to the top spot.

Posted by Claire Manning