Vehicle Emission Air Purifier (VEAP) Device Using Snake Plant (Sanseviera trifasciata prain) Fibers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Vehicle emission is the greatest contributor to air pollution. in fact, 71% of air pollution comes from mobile sources. Due to this reason, this study aimed to utilize Snake plant (Sanseviera trifasciata prain) fibers as a vehicle emission air purifier to lessen the number of smoke constituents (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, nitric oxide, smoke opacity, and smoke density) from both gasoline and diesel-fuelled vehicles.

METHODS

Fibers, obtained by scraping leaves, were inserted into the constructed device. This device was subjected to five trials for each of the five samples of six different types of vehicles (motorcycles, tricycles, cars, vans, jeepneys, and buses) to test its effectiveness, with the help of emission analyzers. Its properties were also tested to support the claim of the fibers as an effective purifier. Other than this, it was also compared to the commercially-available vehicle exhaust filter (Fiber Mat). Lastly, it was subjected to a usability test to determine how long the filter could be used.

RESULTS

Snake plant fiber has 87.02% holocellulose, 11.01% moisture and 3.32% ash content. Tensile strength test shows a single strand can hold up to 160g. in using the device, the greatest decrease in gasoline vehicles are hydrocarbons with 88% and nitric oxide with 99%. While in diesel vehicles, the greatest decrease is smoke density with an average decrease of 95.75%. T-test results show that there were significant differences in the following smoke constituents: CO and CO2 in motorcycles; CO, CO2, and NO in tricycles; smoke opacity and density of cars, jeepneys, and buses; and smoke density of vans after the utilization of the device. Fiber usability was tested for 19 days. The mass increased by 12.2g due to the presence of soot. Lastly, the fibers were concluded to be comparable to the commercial Fiber Mat in terms of cost and effectiveness.

DISCUSSIONS

The results show that the Snake plant (Sanseviera trifasciata prain) is an effective vehicle emission air purifier as it reduced almost all of the smoke constituents present in gasoline and diesel-fuelled vehicles. It also has desirable properties that make it a compelling vehicle exhaust filter. Moreover, it is highly comparable to the available commercial exhaust filter -Fiber Mat.