Mahasiswa di Medan Berinovasi Ciptakan Alat Penyaring Polusi Udara

Summary

A group of students from Universitas Negeri Medan has innovatively transformed waste materials like eggshells and palm fiber into an air pollution filter. This device, which captures carbon dioxide and dust, earned international recognition by winning a silver medal at the Malaysia Technology Expo in 2020. The filter uses eggshell waste, rich in calcium carbonate, to trap CO2, while palm fiber acts as an additional filtering medium. The device, equipped with air quality detectors, reduces pollution from sources like smoke and is praised for its potential to benefit the community.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Waste materials like eggshells and palm fibers can be used to create air pollution filters.
• 🎓 A group of students from Universitas Negeri Medan developed an air filter that removes carbon dioxide and dust.
• 🥚 Eggshells are chosen for their calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content, which can bind with CO2 for filtration.
• 🌿 Palm fibers are also used in the filter to complement the eggshell's effectiveness.
• 🔧 The creation process is simple: eggshells are ground, and palm fibers are cut to fit into a wire mesh filter.
• 💡 The filter is inserted into a glass tube equipped with air quality detectors to measure pollution reduction.
• 🚬 The filter can remove pollutants like cigarette smoke and trash-burning emissions.
• 🏆 The project won a silver medal at an international competition in Malaysia in February 2020.
• 🔬 Faculty members are supporting the students to refine and enhance the filter's effectiveness.
• 🌍 The team hopes that the innovation will benefit the broader community, particularly in Medan city.

Q & A

What materials are used in the air pollution filter created by the students from Universitas Negeri Medan?

The materials used in the filter are eggshell waste and ijuk (fiber from the aren tree).

How do the students utilize eggshells in their air filter innovation?

Eggshells are crushed and used because they contain 94% calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which can bind with carbon dioxide (CO2) to trap it.

What specific part of the eggshell is important for this innovation, and why?

The second and third layers of the eggshell are important because they contain calcium carbonate, which has the ability to bind with carbon dioxide.

How is the ijuk from the aren tree prepared for use in the filter?

The ijuk is finely sifted and cut to the appropriate size before being used in the filter.

How does the air filter work in terms of detecting and reducing air pollution?

The filter is placed inside a glass tube equipped with two air quality detectors. The device draws in polluted air, which is then filtered, reducing the pollution levels, which is visible on the detectors.

What types of air pollution can the filter reduce?

The filter can reduce various forms of air pollution such as smoke from burning waste and cigarette smoke.

What was the international recognition received by the students for this innovation?

The team won a silver medal in the technology category at the Malaysia Technology Expo in February 2020.

What did the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Negeri Medan say about the innovation?

The Dean, Faujah Harahab, expressed pride in the students' achievement and hopes that the innovation can be improved for wider societal benefit.

What is the potential impact of this air filter innovation for the community?

The filter could be highly beneficial in reducing air pollution in urban areas, especially in cities like Medan, improving public health.

How many filters are used inside the device, and how is their effectiveness measured?

Two filters are used inside the device, and their effectiveness is measured by the difference in air quality before and after filtration as shown by the air quality detectors.