Design and Performance Evaluation of a Solar-Powered Air Purification System Using Activated Carbon

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijsreat.20260603031

Published In

Volume 6, Issue 3 (2026)

Published Online

May-June 2026

Pages

204-215

Article Type

Original Article

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Air pollution caused by particulate matter, carbonaceous aerosols, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and gaseous contaminant s has become a critical environmental and public health challenge. Conventional air purification systems often involve high capital costs, complex maintenance requirements, and significant energy consumption, limiting their applicability in rural and low-resource environments. This study presents the design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of a low-cost solar-powered air purification system employing filter paper and activated carbon as primary purification media. The developed system integrates mechanical filtration and adsorption mechanisms to remove particulate and gaseous pollutants from combustion-generated air streams. Polluted air generated from coal, wood husk, and cow dung combustion was introduced into the purification chamber using a controlled airflow arrangement consisting of a suction pump and DC(direct current) fan. Air quality parameters including carbon dioxide (CO₂), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured at both inlet and outlet locations using air quality sensors. Experimental results demonstrated significant reductions in pollutant concentration after filtration, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed system. The integration of solar energy enables sustainable operation with minimal operating cost, making the system suitable for educational, domestic, and small-scale environmental applications. Experimental results demonstrated average pollutant removal efficiencies of 30.32% for CO₂, 47.56% for HCHO, and 56.86% for TVOCs. The proposed purification unit provides an economical and environmentally sustainable alternative for localized air quality improvement