IIT Kanpur launches air sampling device, contributing to air quality management

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has launched its air sampling device, titled the 'multiple slit nozzle-based high volume PM2.5 impactor assembly'. The air sampling device is developed by Tarun Gupta, professor, IIT Kanpur. The official launch held on March 11, 2024, at IIT Kanpur's Pioneer Batch Continuing Education Centre (PBCEC).

In 2020, the institution signed a technology transfer agreement with Airshed Planning Professionals Private Limited to licence this developed technology for local production, with the goal of replacing imported and costly air samplers and impactors.

Features of air sampling device

The Air Sampling Device has a high-volume PM2.5 impactor with numerous slit nozzles, resulting in great particle collecting efficiency and low pressure drop. The nozzle and substrate plates, made of chrome-plated brass, smoothly fit into current high-volume dust samplers, improving their performance without changing the original configuration. The device is intended to gather samples for analysing a variety of air characteristics, such as respirable air quality, ambient air monitoring and sampling, and quantitative assessments of air contaminants. Furthermore, it offers quantitative estimates of various microbial colonies found in the ambient air.

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Product launch event

The product launch event began with the reveal and demonstration of the air sampling devices, followed by an introduction speech and insights from stakeholders engaged in the product development to commercialization process. A discussion with stakeholders from a variety of fields, including institutions, the Pollution Control Board, research and development firms, infrastructure corporations, and industry partners, centred on the milestones and potential of various products to bring about revolutionary change in the cleantech area.

During the discussions, they also shared their thoughts on the milestones and potential of different tech-driven products for addressing gaps in the Indian Air Quality Monitoring ecosystem.

S Ganesh, director, IIT Kanpur, said, “Today's launch represents a significant step forward in our efforts to combat air pollution and develop solutions that make a tangible difference. With this technology licensed to Airshed Planning Professionals Private Limited, the device will soon be available in the market at an affordable price. Such technologies, developed at the institute, aim to promote micro, small and medium enterprises for boosting the indigenous ecosystem.”