World's Biggest Air Purifier Cleans Beijing's Air, Turns Smog into Jewelries

Sep 29, 2016 10:51 PM EDT

The Smog Free Tower, which is designed by Daan Roosegaarde as part of his Smog Free Project, debuted in Beijing on Thursday.

(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) The Smog Free Tower, which is designed by Daan Roosegaarde as part of his Smog Free Project, debuted in Beijing on Thursday.

The world's biggest air purifier, which not only removes pollutants and cleans air but also turns smog into jewelry, made its debut in Beijing, China, on Thursday. The Smog Free Tower is designed by Daan Roosegaarde as part of his Smog Free Project.

The Smog Free Tower could clean 30,000 cubic meters every hour. Its ion technology could attract at least 75 percent of even small pollutant particles such as PM2.5 and PM10. After cleaning, the seven-meter high tower could then create a "bubble of clean air enabling citizens to experience clean air for free," the Dutch innovator wrote on his website.

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Interestingly, the smog particles collected would not end up to waste as the artist gets them from the tower and compresses them into jewelries like a ring and cufflinks.

(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) The Smog Free Project turns pollutants into jewelries.

The 37-year-old inventor said he was inspired to launch the Smog Free campaign after his visit in China three years ago, when he saw high smog and pollution levels in Beijing that inhibit children from going out from their homes.

In an interview with Reuters, Roosegaarde said: "The Smog Free Project is about the Smog Free Tower providing clean air, but it's also about the Smog Free Ring creating an engagement and making the people in China part of the solution, instead of just feeling part of the problem."

While the smog particles only resemble the width of a human air and can only be seen through an electron microscope, these pose health hazards as this can burrow deeply into the lungs and other tissues over time. According to the Air Quality Index, Beijing's air quality as of Thursday (Sept. 29) stood at 159 or "unhealthy."

Roosegaarde's Smog Free Tower is on display in Beijing's 751 D-Park and will travel four major Chinese cities in the coming year.

Tagsair purifier, Smog Free Tower, Smog Free Project, Daan Roosegaarde, air pollution, smog, air quality index