Budding Indian scientists have developed a new method of purifying air in a space combining living plants with patent pending airflow technologies. The plant-based air purifier, named “Ubreathe Life,” according to an article by The Weather Channel, is meant to amplify the purification process in indoor spaces, from hospitals and offices to residential homes.
Dubbed, the “smart bio-filter,” the technology was developed by Urban Air Laboratory, a startup incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar by scientists from IIT Ropar, IIT Kanpur and the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University.
Air Purification Through the Power of Plants
“The technology works through the air-purifying natural leafy plant. The room air interacts with leaves and goes to the soil-root zone where maximum pollutants are purified. The novel technology used in this product is ‘Urban Munnar Effect’ along with patent-pending ‘Breathing Roots’ to exponentially amplify the phyto-remediation process of the plants. Phyto-remediation is a process by which plants effectively remove pollutants from the air,” said a release from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
A centrifugal fan creates a suction pressure inside the purifier and releases purified air, formed at the roots, through the outlet in a 360-degree direction. The specific plants tested for air purification include peace lily, snake plant, spider plant etc., and all have given good results in purifying indoor air quality, the release added.
By switching out specific plants, the device can better target specific pollutants in the air, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. The system, by design, is also able to improve air quality by adding more oxygen to a space. Utilizing a 5-layer filter, the purifier passes air first through the roots of the plant, then through a stack of pre-filter, charcoal filter and HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters followed by UV disinfection, all housed within a natural, wooden container is not only sustainable, but is capable of fitting into a variety of decors. The device even comes with underlighting to create a soothing ambience in the evening.
