MultiPLE-ATMOS: IITR’s new device promises to ‘wash’ air, cut smog | Hindustan Times – Hindustan Times

Report on the MultiPLE-ATMOS Air Purification System and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Scientists at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR–IITR) in Lucknow have developed an innovative air purification device named MultiPLE-ATMOS. This system is engineered to mitigate severe air pollution and smog in urban environments. The development directly addresses critical global and national challenges, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, sustainable cities, and innovation.

Technological Specifications and Functionality

MultiPLE-ATMOS is a comprehensive air purification solution designed for high-pollution zones. Its development and features strongly support SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by providing a novel technological solution for environmental management.

• Integrated Purification Technologies: The device combines multiple advanced systems to ensure thorough air treatment.
  1. Mechanical separation for particulate matter removal.
  2. Photo-catalytic oxidation.
  3. Wet scrubbing for gaseous pollutants.
• Mobility and Deployment: The system is mounted on a four-wheel trolley, enabling mobile deployment to pollution hotspots such as traffic junctions, industrial zones, and construction sites. This flexibility is crucial for making urban infrastructure more resilient and sustainable, a key target of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• Development and Cost: The prototype was developed over two years at a cost exceeding ₹5 lakh, reflecting a commitment to indigenous innovation under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.

Performance and Environmental Impact

The device’s performance in trials demonstrates its potential to significantly improve air quality, thereby contributing to public health and environmental sustainability.

Pollutant Reduction

MultiPLE-ATMOS is designed to reduce all key ambient air pollutants as defined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This capability is a direct contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by reducing the incidence of respiratory and other diseases caused by air pollution.

• Particulate Matter: PM2.5 and PM10
• Gaseous Pollutants: Sulphur monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen trihydride.
• Toxic Metals: Lead, arsenic, and nickel.
• Pathogens: Airborne pathogens.

Efficacy and By-products

The system’s efficiency and waste management align with principles of a circular economy, supporting SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

• Treatment Capacity: The device can treat up to 1,000 cubic metres of air per hour.
• Reduction Rate: Trials have shown a pollutant reduction rate of 83-94%.
• Sustainable By-products: The by-products of the purification process are environmentally safe and recyclable. For instance, gypsum is produced, which can be reused in various industries, promoting sustainable production patterns.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The MultiPLE-ATMOS project is a significant advancement in environmental technology that directly supports multiple SDGs:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By effectively removing a wide range of harmful pollutants and pathogens from the air, the device helps reduce the health burden of air pollution.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: As an indigenous technological innovation, it fosters scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities of national industries.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The device offers a practical solution to reduce urban air pollution, making cities safer, more resilient, and sustainable.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Its use of recyclable by-products promotes sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The call for collaboration between policymakers and industries for mass production and deployment embodies the spirit of partnership required to achieve the SDGs.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The MultiPLE-ATMOS device is now ready for industrial adaptation and mass production. Its successful deployment is contingent upon strategic partnerships between government bodies and private industries, as highlighted in SDG 17. This collaboration is essential to integrate such systems into public spaces and effectively combat air pollution in line with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the broader Sustainable Development Goals. The technology represents a tangible step towards creating healthier urban environments and fostering sustainable industrial innovation.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article discusses the development of a device to clean polluted air, which directly addresses health concerns. Air pollution is a major cause of respiratory and other diseases. The device aims to reduce “all key ambient air pollutants,” including “PM2.5, PM10,” “toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and nickel, along with airborne pathogens,” all of which have severe impacts on human health.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The article focuses on a technological innovation developed by a scientific institution (CSIR–IITR in Lucknow). The creation of the “MultiPLE-ATMOS” device, which “integrates multiple purification technologies,” is a clear example of scientific research and technological development aimed at solving a critical environmental problem. The article also mentions that the device “supports the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative” and is “ready for industrial adaptation and mass production.”

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The primary application of the device is to tackle air pollution in urban areas. The article states the device can be “transported to areas such as traffic junctions, industrial zones, construction or demolition sites, and other pollution hotspots,” which are typically found in cities. The overall goal is to provide a “practical solution to tackle air pollution in urban areas” and give “a cleaner breath for cities battling smog.”

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The article mentions the sustainability of the device’s operation. It states that “its by-products are environmentally safe and recyclable.” Specifically, it notes that “one of the by-products, gypsum, can be reused in various industries,” which aligns with the principles of a circular economy and responsible production patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   • The MultiPLE-ATMOS device is explicitly designed to reduce “key ambient air pollutants,” including hazardous particles like PM2.5, PM10, and toxic metals such as lead and arsenic. By removing these contaminants from the air, the device directly contributes to reducing illnesses and deaths caused by air pollution.

2. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation…

   • The development of this device by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) is a direct outcome of scientific research and innovation. The article highlights that the prototype was “Developed over two years at a cost of more than ₹5 lakh” and is now “ready for industrial adaptation and mass production,” which represents an upgrade in technological capabilities to address pollution.

3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

   • The device is a direct intervention to improve urban air quality. Its mobility allows it to be deployed at “traffic junctions, industrial zones,” and other “pollution hotspots” within cities, directly addressing the goal of reducing the adverse environmental impact of urban areas, with a specific focus on air quality.

4. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

   • The device not only removes pollutants from the air but also ensures its by-products are managed sustainably. The article’s statement that “its by-products are environmentally safe and recyclable” and that gypsum can be “reused in various industries” directly relates to the environmentally sound management of waste generated from the purification process.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Targets 3.9 and 11.6: Levels of specific air pollutants and their reduction.

   • The article explicitly names the pollutants the device targets: “PM2.5, PM10, sulphur monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen trihydride, and toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and nickel.” Progress can be measured by monitoring the concentration of these pollutants. Furthermore, a direct performance metric is provided: the machine “reduced air pollutants by 83-94% during trials.” This percentage reduction serves as a clear indicator of effectiveness.

2. Indicator for Target 9.5: Investment in research and development (R&D).

   • The article provides a specific figure for the investment in this innovation: the prototype was “Developed over two years at a cost of more than ₹5 lakh.” This financial investment is a direct indicator of resources allocated to research and technological development.

3. Indicator for Target 12.4: Generation of recyclable by-products.

   • The article implies a way to measure progress by stating that “one of the by-products, gypsum, can be reused in various industries.” The amount of gypsum (or other recyclable materials) produced and successfully channeled back into industrial use can serve as an indicator for the environmentally sound management of waste from the air purification process.

4. Summary Table of Findings

Source: hindustantimes.com