We thought you might enjoy hearing more about our students' eco invention, which won first prize at the Ratchaburi Provincial Private School Academic Fair: Wet Scrubber Bio Energy!
The project’s aim was to design and construct a device to treat dust, smoke, and air pollution.
The students’ solution, a Wet Scrubber Bio Energy, drew inspiration from industrial wet scrubbers. They repurposed an old exhaust fan to draw air in, then directed steam flow perpendicular to the air stream. This, combined with a layer of material known as Packing Media, increased the surface area between water and air, thereby improving pollutant capture efficiency.
In this case, the Packing Media was an effective biofilter made from water hyacinth fibers. To engineer the filters, water hyacinth was soaked and boiled with sodium hydroxide to extract the fibers, and then the fibers were formed into filter sheets using cassava starch as a binder. These biofilters replaced synthetic fiber dust filters, which are difficult to decompose and harmful to the environment. The device also incorporated solar energy to replace traditional fuel-based energy.
To evaluate its effectiveness, the finished machine was tested in the school cafeteria, playground, and sports fields, using the Gravimetric Method. Results showed that the device significantly reduces dust, smoke, and air pollution levels.
We are proud of our students for conceptualizing, designing, and successfully manufacturing this brilliant eco-invention!
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