Public Lab Research note


This is an attempt to replicate an activity.

Building a plant-based air purifier kit at Barnraising

by warren , liz , zengirl2 | October 25, 2018 20:54 25 Oct 20:54 | #17395 | #17395

This is an attempt to follow the latest instructions for this kit: https://publiclab.org/notes/nshapiro/09-26-2016/build-a-plant-based-air-purifier

We followed some printed instructions via @liz to assemble this at a recent Barnraising event, and it went really well! We did have an issue with the pump voltage but are pretty sure we can find a locally bought pump that will work. We saw one at a nearby restaurant fishtank, in fact 😄

image description

We found a plant that was sold in water already, which saved time, although we took it slow so the water would have time to soak into the gravelly material. Would it have worked to just

Here we are mixing and washing the gravelly stuff; we did it in a reusable plastic shopping bag, which we actually imagine might make for a good insert itself:

image description

image description

image description

image description

Here's the fabric insert. Some people were curious what other porous synthetic materials could be used here, for an even more DIY version. I was reminded of http://crochetcoralreef.org and thinking of textile arts a lot!

image description

We weren't sure how to ensure that the hose stayed in the "J" shape shown in the instructions, and tried making a loop so that it held that shape while we put in gravel.

image description

Here we're packing the gravelly stuff around the plant while trying to ensure the hose position above the eventual water level:

image description

Actually putting the hose on the pump was a little harder than we'd thought!

image description

But ultimately, besides the pump voltage issue, everything went pretty smoothly.

Ideas we had:

1. what about adding a bubble stone (https://www.amazon.com/Pawfly-Aquarium-Hydroponics-Airstones-Diffuser/dp/B01LYLNQWV/, also see image below) to help control where the hose remains? It could be held in place a little more easily, and might be less likely to be clogged

2. we worried about the hose going underwater. Is it a big problem, or is that a holdover from when the pump would run in reverse? Like, is it a problem if it bubbles through the water before entering the root area? Someone said it could create carbonic acid, but doing this is pretty normal in a fishtank with plants, so... we weren't sure.

That's it - I know @liz has a lot more notes, but just getting this up for starters!

image descriptionimage description


I did this Help out by offering feedback!


People who did this (0)

None yet. Be the first to post one!


8 Comments

Reply to this comment...


@warren has marked @zengirl2 as a co-author.

Reply to this comment...


@warren has marked @liz as a co-author.

Reply to this comment...


Reply to this comment...


Air stone picture i forgot to upload!

71O5BUm2koL._SX569_.jpg

Reply to this comment...


This is a great recap, thanks! Looking forward to hearing next from the artist named "So" who adopted the plant to live in Guangzhou. One additional pregame point i can share is that @shanlter and I found a plant to buy at a shop a block away that already had roots growing in water in a clear jar. It was like getting a jump start on the build!

Reply to this comment...


Nice project. Is there an established standard to quantify CO2 or VOC in air flowing into pump? I was thinking of either Arduino or Adafruit CO2/VOC sensor but not sure which is best for robust and consistent sensitivity.

To improve on design I would use more than one air line per system, so like real roots, should not be too centralized. I would wrap line and uniformly punch needle holes so all parts of substrate/roots get air exposure, if that makes any difference in sequestering.

Thanks

Is this a question? Click here to post it to the Questions page.

Reply to this comment...


Wow this looks like such a cool project! I'm definitely going to give this a go in my home. We live near Green Bay and with all the manufacturing around here, I often wonder about our air quality. Plus I'm a drywall contractor so I have plenty of experience with dusty remodels.

Reply to this comment...


Login to comment.