Chakr clean technology converts diesel carbon into paints: Recycling pollutants

Pollution is a major challenge the world over. It is a major killer in developing countries such as India, China, and Bangladesh. Medical journal The Lancet says air pollution led to the maximum number of deaths in 2015, killing 6.5 million people world-wide. While India tops the world with respect to pollution-related deaths, China comes a close second with around 1.8 million deaths. As per the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, India contributed 28 percent to the global figure of 9 million pollution-connected deaths in 2015. Similarly, according to report ‘Airpocalypse’ by Greenpeace India, every year millions of people lose lives due to air pollution. A major source of the pollution is unburnt fuel from diesel generators, which produces particulate matter (PM2.5 as well as PM10). A Delhi-based organization Chakr Innovation promises to solve just this problem. It is out on a mission to curb pollution through recycling. Its award-winning as well as patented technology Chakr Shield clean technology converts the diesel soot spewed from generators into inks and paints.

Idea behind clean technology and innovation Chakr Shield

Diesel generators are a major culprit behind pollution. However, as long as developing countries battle erratic power supply, the use of such polluting diesel generators can’t be ruled out. In fact, it is essential in some situations where consistent power supply is a must such as for maintenance of essential services like hospitals, Metro Trains, mobile towers, etc. Therefore, a complete ban on the use of diesel generator sets is not feasible.

How does this green technology work?

Keeping in view the ubiquity of such diesel generators, three Indian innovators have come up with a n innovation to solve the problem. Kushagra Srivastava, Arpit Dhupar, and Prateek Sachan have devised a technological solution called the Chakr Shield. The device works on a pretty innovative solvent-based method. The clean technology collects about 90 per cent of particulate matter emission, which is primarily carbon black from the diesel soot. Then, it removes heavy metals as well as carcinogens (agents or substances that may cause cancer). It is then converted into a purified carbon-based pigment which can then be used for making various kinds of inks as well as paints. This is a wonderfully innovative solution to curb air pollution through a recyclable way.

“We invented an emission control device for the diesel generators. The device can be retrofitted on diesel generators, and can capture 90 per cent of particulate matter emission. Created through the use of a novel solution, it is one of its kind device that controls pollution without causing adverse impact on engine performance or environment. The story does not end. Once captured, pollutants, essentially black carbon, gets processed and converts into inks and paints. Chakr Shield stems from the Hindi word for circle, signifying closing of the loop for black Carbon. Thus, this clean technology captures as well as reuses air pollution,” says the company website.

Chakr Shield’s clean technology is running at 35 different sites and it has succeeded in capturing over 300 kg of particulate matter in the last one year. The emissions would have polluted around 1,500 billion liters of air. No wonder, the clean technology startup has been able to raise more than $1.5 million in funding.

“Chakr Innovation aims to create pioneering, sustainable, as well as scalable technologies to combat the grave threat of pollution. Our mission is to develop as well as implement innovative solutions, which can control pollution, saving the environment and protecting health. The first product, a retrofit emission control device for diesel generators, addresses a most pressing issue for humankind, that is availability of breathable air through capturing pollution at the source,” adds the Chakr Innovation website.