Solution to Pollution: Filtration of Ambient Air Pollution Dr. Jacen Moore,Gisel Fregoso, Michaela James, Salvador Gonzalez

Work With A Scientist Program, UTEP El Paso, TX, USA University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA El Paso Independent School District, El Paso, TX, USA

Thesis The goal of this research is to understand the properties of criteria pollutants and

to create a product that can filter ambient air pollution.

Objective/Introduction Ranking in the top five most important world problems and ever increasing, air

pollution requires immediate attention due to the continued dependency on fossil fuels. Emissions by factories and vehicles are deteriorating the environment with

no backtrack to the damage, where these pollutants have also been associated with respiratory and cardiovascular damages to these body systems. It is not only

to clean our environment but to improve human health that the production of devices that can aid in decreasing pollution that truly shows its importance. As an

inspiration, Dr. Roosegaard demonstrated through his Smog vacuum that it is possible to remove pollutants from the air, by which we chose to counteract the

six primary pollutants found in air: lead, particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. The goal of this project is to create a prototype of a device that can potentially filter the elements of outdoor pollution,

therefore reducing it.

Hypothesis In recent observation of increasing levels of PM and ground ozone throughout

cities due to gas emissions, the development of a chemical substance by distribution through an air filtration system leads in solving air pollution, which will be able to neutralize ambient air pollution to minimize or resolve it entirely.

Specific Student Responsibilities I will be responsible for the researching of air composition, the analyzing of air

samples, creating and designing of a final product under the guidance of Dr. Jacen Moore and Research Assistant Marcos Zambora. Through experimentation,

I am also responsible for consistent execution of procedures, maintenance of safety through using industrial equipment, and recording valid data. Through this

project, I will learn about the chemistry behind environmental science and the use of the engineering process to create a product.

Method

Engineering Design Process: Product Creation

Problem: Air pollution is

increasing exponentially

with not enough devices that

counteract those contaminants.

Project Timeline The project period was 5 weeks. List of Tasks per week: •  Week 1 (June 22- June 26) >Reverse Engineer Air Purifier >Develop filter composition >Begin drafting a materials list of possible equipment needed >Three filters will be used for prototype: 1. Diatomaceous earth, sand, and carbon charcoal 2. Graphene 3. UV light and TiO2 •  Week 2 (June 29-July 3) >Research on properties of TiO2 and UV light (function together) > Materials for prototype obtained > Meeting with Dr. Chianelli for advice on constructing our prototype > Construction of the first chamber’s filter •  Week 3 (July 6- July 10) > Absence of members (Michaela until Wednesday, Gisel until next week) > Modifications applied onto the first filter > Third filter was built, consisting of a water system that refills itself > Meeting with Eva Deemer and her assistant Aleksy; she explained the properties of graphene and its application onto our system •  Week 4 (July 13-July 17) > Meeting with Dr. Chianelli, who corrected the concept of the properties we had associated graphene with > Meeting with Aleksy, Eva Deemer’s assistant, to provide us with the graphene filter, which was obtained as a membrane 24 hours later > Research on properties of each of the materials used per filter > Replacement of several containers to facilitate system > Insertion of tubing for water conduction; alternative method of constructing our own air vacuum was decided and materials were chosen •  Week 5 (July 20-July 24) > Air vacuum was constructed and continually tested: unsuccessfully the the current did not pass through, burning out the air vacuum. > Water pump and tank attached onto the system > Water pump and tubing was testing to distinguish the release of air pressure that would allow air molecules to transfer through > Shock bag replaced air vacuum since it provided enough suction and release of clean air > UVB light and TiO2 membrane attached onto second chamber > Entire system was plugged into outlet to determine if it operated

Research: Dr. Roosegaard, a Dutch innovator and designer, created a Smog vacuum in Beijing, China

that collects smog particles through underground copper

coils. An air filtration system has to be developed to be able to

collect air pollutants and break them apart or neutralize them.

Several filters have to target each of the pollutants.

Requirements: The six primary

pollutants have to be targeted to be filtered. The

system has to intake outside air, releasing clean air bubbles that will

be processed to be fully cleaned.

Brainstorming: 1.Draft that includes filtration system as a pyramid, including tiers for each of the processes. 2.In acting similar to a an air purifier, air must be transferred through accumulation and released at the top as to not collect organic matter. 3.Air will transfer through the top, with air bubbles released through a rapid water turbine, where a tube will feed it onto the second chamber with the UV light and TiO2, which feeds onto the third container filled with water and graphene for the final filtration.

Solution:

Sources Air Pollution and Health | Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District. (2015). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.ourair.org/air-pollutants-and-our-health/. An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). (n.d.). Retrieved Juy 14, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html. Brownstone, S. (2013, October 22). This Smog Vacuum Could Suck Up The World's Pollution. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.fastcoexist.com/3020364/futurist-forum/this-smog-vacuum-could-suck-up-the-worlds-pollution. Diatomite (Diatomaceous Earth). (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2015, from http://www.imerys-perfmins.com/diatomite/eu/diatomaceous-earth.htm. Frequent Questions. (2014, February 6). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/faq.htm#0. Mercola, J. (2011, July 15). Your Indoor Air Quality Could Be Worse than Outdoor Air. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/25/poor-indoor-air-quality-could-be-jeopardizing-your-health.aspx. Newton, E. (2014, May 13). Smog-Sucking Electrostatic Vacuum Cleaners May Scrub Polluted Air. Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/smog-sucking-electrostatic-vacuum-cleaners-may-scrub-beijings-air/. Particulate Matter. (2013, March 18). Retrieved July 13, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/pm/. Stormwater Technology Fact Sheet Sand Filters. (1999, September 1). Retrieved July 14, 2015, from http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/upload/2002_06_28_mtb_sandfltr.pdf. The Beginner's Guide To Diatomaceous Earth. (2014, November 18). Retrieved July 13, 2015 from http://www.mommypotamus.com/uses-diatomaceous-earth/. What Are the Six Common Air Pollutants? (2015, June 5). Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/oaqps001/urbanair/. What Do Carbon Filters Remove From Water? (20115, June 25). Retrieved July 14, 2015, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/193977-what-do-carbon-filters-remove-from-water/. What is activated charcoal and why is it used in filters? (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2015, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/question209.htm.

Acknowledgments This project is sponsored by National Science Foundation No. DRL-1322600.

Great thanks for all those who gave guidance to make this project possible: Dr. Jacen Moore, Marcos Zambora, Christine SantaCruz, Dr. Chianelli, Dr. Sky-Fortier, Dr.

Fitzgerald, Eva Deemer and Assistant Aleksey Zebrowski.

Evaluate: The first filter is composed of

diatomaceous earth, sand, and carbon charcoal to filter organic matter. The second filter has the photo

remediation process occurring by the UV light and catalyst TiO2.

The third filter contains graphene as to allow only air particles to exit onto the

environment.

Results: