Air pollution is a major global issue affecting the environment, human health and food security. It is estimated to cause 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide and reduces crop productivity which could feed millions of people yearly. Furthermore, air pollution related to carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (NOx) contribute significantly to climate change. The consequences are predicted to raise earth’s temperature, more pronounced dryness and precipitation, increased sea level and others affecting significant our living environment and ourselves.
NOx is 310 times worse than CO2 as a greenhouse gas causing climate change and is produced by soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilisers, fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning. Current efforts to reduce the occurrence of climate change have been focusing on decreasing the emission levels of greenhouse gasses. This can be achieved by using alternatives to fossil fuel burning for energy and transport and by increasing the ability of “sinks” such as oceans and soils to accumulate these gases. The use of solar and wind energy, greater engine efficiency, protecting forests and use of bio-fuels are contributing to the reduction of gas emissions.
However, the urban living is responsible for approximately 30% of the issue. The rest comes from agricultural land using synthetic or organic fertilisers and cultivation practices releasing NOx. In the UK alone, NOx is responsible for 45,000 premature deaths per annum and contributes to increased risk of sensitisation and asthma resulting in a crippled national health service as the most common condition for urgent admissions.
The current need for a large-scale solution that significantly reduces NOx brings R-Leaf® in the heart of the issue. With financial support from the UK government, the European Union and University researchers, Crop Intellect Ltd has developed a specialised process to produce photocatalytic material that are activated under visible light. Typically, photocatalysts work under ultraviolet irradiation limiting their potential for use in large scale situation. Further, the current processes known as doping to produce such material are inhibitorily expensive to use in large scale in any industry. Crop Intellect’s process has enabled the manufacturing of the highly active material in a very low cost, in an environmentally friendly way and without the use of solvents. The material is target specific to degrade NOx and other airborne pollutants.
The invention aims to utilise the cost-effective manufacturing of specialty material to remove NOx from the atmosphere alleviating climate change, human health and environmental damage and convert it to a usable form of nutrient for agriculture resulting in increased yield, resource efficiency and cost reduction for farmers.
The project was completed successfully on time and confirmed the potential of the innovative technology to provide an effective method to remove NOx from the atmosphere and use its by-product to improve agricultural productivity and reduce the burden of the farming industry to the environment.
