Environmentally friendly and energy-self-sufficiency-based air purifier: an approach for mitigating outdoor particulate matter

Abstract

The impact of indoor and ambient air pollution on human health is significant, with ambient air pollutants contributing to millions of deaths annually. Particulate matter (PM), a prevalent pollutant in ambient and indoor air, consists of solid and liquid particles suspended in a gaseous atmosphere. The formation of PM is primarily attributed to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Air pollution carries health, environmental and economic effects. To address these challenges, nations worldwide are obligated to develop policies aimed at safeguarding air quality, protecting human health, biodiversity and ecosystems. Long-term environmental interventions have been mandated by international agreements to eliminate pollutant emissions, while short-term interventions are recommended for immediate outcomes. While numerous devices are available to mitigate indoor air pollutants, limited pre-commercial methods exist for improving ambient air quality. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to ambient air purification system that utilizes renewable energy sources and achieves energy self-sufficiency. The effectiveness of this newly developed air purifier in controlling outdoor particulate pollution was investigated, providing insights into its potential to mitigate the health and economic impacts associated with PM exposure. A comparative analysis of percentage and mass values for various parameters measured upstream and downstream of the air purifier enabled an initial assessment of the filter’s effectiveness in removing impurities and was assesses at the level of 74%. A noticeable decrease in mass values was observed for all analysed components of PM, with the exception of nitric ions. Moreover, it was found out that the tested filter demonstrates greater efficacy in removing inorganic PM components compared to organic chemicals. Graphical abstract