Energy Generated from Polluted Air

It is always a wonderful thing when we find sustainable ways to produce energy. Belgian University of Antwerp and KU Leuven recently announced the creation of a device to purify polluted air while generating power, killing two birds with one stone.

The machine contains two rooms with a membrane as separation. When at work, one side of the room cleans the air, while the other side harvests hydrogen gas from the pollutants which can be stored for later use. The scientists plan to use solar energy to power up the device, making it a truly sustainable recycling platform. This mechanism was first made to function in water, but the developers discover that it not only can work in air, but also that it is more efficient in polluted air.

So far the device works only on a few square centimeters, but the researchers are optimistic and ambitious and think it can be used at industrial level. Could this be the end of smoggy cities? This project gives up hope.

Source: KU Leuven