Air pollution is a growing concern in urban areas worldwide, with dire consequences for human health and the environment. Belgrade, Serbia, is no exception, being the fourth most polluted city in the country. In an effort to combat this problem, scientists have developed an innovative solution: the "liquid tree," an urban photo-bioreactor that harnesses the power of microalgae to improve air quality.
The Liquid Tree: A Solution for Tackling Greenhouse Gas EmissionsÂ
The liquid tree is Serbia's first urban photo-bioreactor, designed to address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in densely populated areas. The device contains 600 liters of water and microalgae that bind carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce pure oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.Â
Dr. Ivan Spasojevic, one of the project's authors from the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research at the University of Belgrade, explains that microalgae are 10 to 50 times more efficient than trees in binding CO2. This is equivalent to the CO2-binding capacity of two 10-year-old trees or 200 square meters of lawn. The goal of the liquid tree, however, is not to replace forests but to fill urban pockets where there is no space for planting trees.
The Liquid Tree: A Solution for Tackling Greenhouse Gas EmissionsÂ
The liquid tree is Serbia's first urban photo-bioreactor, designed to address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in densely populated areas. The device contains 600 liters of water and microalgae that bind carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce pure oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.Â
Dr. Ivan Spasojevic, one of the project's authors from the Institute for Multidisciplinary Research at the University of Belgrade, explains that microalgae are 10 to 50 times more efficient than trees in binding CO2. This is equivalent to the CO2-binding capacity of two 10-year-old trees or 200 square meters of lawn. The goal of the liquid tree, however, is not to replace forests but to fill urban pockets where there is no space for planting trees.
Belgrade's Pollution ProblemÂ
Belgrade's air quality is severely compromised due to the presence of two large coal power plants nearby, which are among the top 10 dirtiest plants in Europe, according to the European NGO Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), filling the air with high concentrations of particulate matter. A report in December 2019 also highlighted that Serbia had Europe's worst per capita record for pollution-related deaths, with 175 per 100,000 people.Â
Activists claim that pollution in Serbia and other parts of the Balkan peninsula is so severe that it can be seen, smelled, and even tasted, particularly during the autumn and winter seasons.Â
The Potential Impact of Liquid Trees on Urban Air PollutionÂ
The liquid tree offers a novel and efficient solution for sequestering greenhouse gases in Belgrade's most polluted urban areas. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that atmospheric greenhouse gas levels must decline by 43% before 2030 and 60% by 2035 to maintain global temperature rise below 1.5°C.Â
To achieve these targets, transitioning away from fossil fuels and employing carbon removal through natural sequestration and innovative technologies like the liquid tree are essential. The effectiveness of microalgae in locking away CO2 is estimated to be 10 to 50 times higher than regular trees, making it a promising solution for urban areas with limited space for planting trees.Â
The liquid tree represents a potential game-changer in the fight against urban air pollution. By utilizing microalgae to bind carbon dioxide and produce pure oxygen, this technology offers a practical and efficient solution for improving air quality in densely populated cities like Belgrade. While not intended to replace natural forests, liquid trees can fill the void in urban pockets where planting trees is not feasible. As the world seeks innovative solutions to combat climate change and improve air quality, the liquid tree offers a glimpse of a cleaner, greener future for our urban environments.
Belgrade's air quality is severely compromised due to the presence of two large coal power plants nearby, which are among the top 10 dirtiest plants in Europe, according to the European NGO Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), filling the air with high concentrations of particulate matter. A report in December 2019 also highlighted that Serbia had Europe's worst per capita record for pollution-related deaths, with 175 per 100,000 people.Â
Activists claim that pollution in Serbia and other parts of the Balkan peninsula is so severe that it can be seen, smelled, and even tasted, particularly during the autumn and winter seasons.Â
The Potential Impact of Liquid Trees on Urban Air PollutionÂ
The liquid tree offers a novel and efficient solution for sequestering greenhouse gases in Belgrade's most polluted urban areas. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that atmospheric greenhouse gas levels must decline by 43% before 2030 and 60% by 2035 to maintain global temperature rise below 1.5°C.Â
To achieve these targets, transitioning away from fossil fuels and employing carbon removal through natural sequestration and innovative technologies like the liquid tree are essential. The effectiveness of microalgae in locking away CO2 is estimated to be 10 to 50 times higher than regular trees, making it a promising solution for urban areas with limited space for planting trees.Â
The liquid tree represents a potential game-changer in the fight against urban air pollution. By utilizing microalgae to bind carbon dioxide and produce pure oxygen, this technology offers a practical and efficient solution for improving air quality in densely populated cities like Belgrade. While not intended to replace natural forests, liquid trees can fill the void in urban pockets where planting trees is not feasible. As the world seeks innovative solutions to combat climate change and improve air quality, the liquid tree offers a glimpse of a cleaner, greener future for our urban environments.
The microalgae replace two 10-year-old trees or 200 square meters of lawn. The function of the LIQUID 3 is practically an imitation of it. Both trees and grass perform photosynthesis and bind carbon dioxide. However, the advantage of microalgae is that it is 10 to 50 times more efficient than trees. The team behind LIQUID 3 has stated that their goal is not to replace forests or tree planting plans but to use this system to fill those urban pockets where there is no space for planting trees. In conditions of intense pollution, such as Belgrade, many trees cannot survive, while algae do not have a problem with the great levels of pollution.
The LIQUID 3 is placed in front of the Municipality of Stari Grad in Makedonska Street in Belgrade, a busy urban area where CO2 emission where the concentrations are highest.
“The photobioreactor is a completely new biotechnological solution for air purification and the production of oxygen. In an aquarium of six hundred liters of water, we have algae that bind carbon dioxide and produce pure oxygen through photosynthesis. The project is designed to be multifunctional. LIQUID3 is also a bench, it has chargers for mobile phones, as well as a solar panel, thanks to which the bench has lighting during the night. The municipality of Stari grad has decided to support this project which directly contributes to improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens, public health and cleaner environment through using smart and innovative solutions”, said Bojan Bojić, head of the Department for Social Affairs and Development Projects in Stari Grad.
The LIQUID 3 is placed in front of the Municipality of Stari Grad in Makedonska Street in Belgrade, a busy urban area where CO2 emission where the concentrations are highest.
“The photobioreactor is a completely new biotechnological solution for air purification and the production of oxygen. In an aquarium of six hundred liters of water, we have algae that bind carbon dioxide and produce pure oxygen through photosynthesis. The project is designed to be multifunctional. LIQUID3 is also a bench, it has chargers for mobile phones, as well as a solar panel, thanks to which the bench has lighting during the night. The municipality of Stari grad has decided to support this project which directly contributes to improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens, public health and cleaner environment through using smart and innovative solutions”, said Bojan Bojić, head of the Department for Social Affairs and Development Projects in Stari Grad.
Dr. Ivan Spasojevic also explained that “the Institute used single-celled freshwater algae, which exist in ponds and lakes in Serbia and can grow in tap water, and are resistant to high and low temperatures. The system does not require special maintenance – it is enough to remove the biomass created by dividing algae, which can be used as an excellent fertilizer, in a month and a half, pour new water and minerals, and the algae continue to grow indefinitely. This project aims to popularize and expand the use of microalgae in Serbia, because they can be used in wastewater treatment, as compost for green areas, for the production of biomass and biofuels, as well as for air purification from exhaust gases from the factories”.
design, LIQUID 3 was awarded one of the 11 best innovative and climate-smart solutions by the Climate Smart Urban Development project, created by the UNDP, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The LIQUID 3 comes to show that the promotion of climate-smart urban development is as important as ever. By engaging the civil society, the public, and businesses to come up with new and innovative ideas on how to contribute to this in practice, we can ensure better solutions for climate change mitigation, which will overall have a positive effect across all areas.
Credit : Dr. Ivan Spasojevic/WorldBioMatketInsights/EnvirotechOnline.
design, LIQUID 3 was awarded one of the 11 best innovative and climate-smart solutions by the Climate Smart Urban Development project, created by the UNDP, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The LIQUID 3 comes to show that the promotion of climate-smart urban development is as important as ever. By engaging the civil society, the public, and businesses to come up with new and innovative ideas on how to contribute to this in practice, we can ensure better solutions for climate change mitigation, which will overall have a positive effect across all areas.
Credit : Dr. Ivan Spasojevic/WorldBioMatketInsights/EnvirotechOnline.
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