10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
[AGE28-P06] Enhanced elimination of Particulate matter, Formaldehyde, and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC’s) using diatoms embedded microalgal biochar (non-activated) for indoor air purification.
Keywords:Air Pollution, Indoor Air Pollution, Microalgae, Biochar, Particulate Matter, Total Volatile Organic Compounds
Air pollution has had a significant influence on the lives of ordinary people. Increased levels of health-harming components in indoor air, such as TVOC and HCHO, in addition to particulate matter, have contributed to increased pulmonary complications and a reduction in overall life expectancy. Indoor VOC levels have soared due to shifts in lifestyle, such as the use of chemical-based aerosols, colognes, varnishes, and incense sticks. Associated with behavioural and economic constraints, the use of masks and air purifiers is restricted. Taking this into consideration, we created a simple, first-of-its-kind indoor scrubbing tube made of diatoms embedded microalgae biochar for indoor air purification. The scrubbing tube is loaded with microalgal biochar that was produced at 700°C (optimised) and has a column length of 5cm. A packed column length of 5cm scrubbing tube can filter air at a rate of 1ft3/sec. The removal efficiency of PM2.5, PM10, PM1, and TVOC and HCHO was estimated. At very high concentrations of 1.50 HCHO (mg/m3) and 9.57 TVOC (mg/m3), VOC removal efficiency was 99.99%. The removal efficiency of PM2.5, PM10, and PM1 was 80%, 92%, and 65%, respectively. The designed tube can be installed anywhere indoors to remove PM and VOCs. Furthermore, such technology can be installed in rural chulhas (Brick-Mud based) and Kolhu (Jaggery Making Industry) where purchasing an Air Purifier is still cost prohibitive. Furthermore, the biochar was produced from microalgae cultivated in discharged biomethane plant slurry in a 100L pilot - scale, making it a self-sustaining and economically implementable process.