Imagine walking by the concrete city roads and breathing in the fresh air with comparatively low pollution levels. You might be thinking whether that is possible. But yes, in the past few days, videos and images have been circulating across various social networking sites, with an aquarium full of algae on a Siberian sidewalk. Liquid tree Serbia is the latest discovery by the scientists there, fighting against the pollution on Earth.
The Liquid Tree Belgrade – Serbia Concept
You will always find city life so busy and populated by urban dwellers. With so much concrete all around, there is hardly any place to plant a small life at the corner of the street. However, with determination comes success, and a team of scientists from Belgrade University, Serbia, in collaboration with the UN’s development program, has proved the same.
Liquid tree Serbia is an exclusive output to deal with rising CO2 levels and airborne complications all around the globe. LIQUID 3 is a photobioreactor capable of tackling emissions from greenhouse gas. Thus improving the overall quality of the air surrounding.
While the world noticed the Liquid tree in 2023, the same has been operating in Serbia since 2021. The particular serves as a multifunctional way out for urban dwellers. One can sit by the bench attached to the photobioreactor while charging their mobile phones. A connected solar panel keeps the bench lit at night.
The technique is completely new and comes as a part of a biotechnological solution, helping people around with fresh air. The research team has combined algae with six hundred liters of water. That ultimately binds Carbon Dioxide and produces fresh Oxygen over photosynthesis.
The Liquid Tree More Reactive Over Regular Trees
Natural trees are effective in their ways, helping sustain humans and other life on earth for thousands of years. Scientists claim one Liquid tree to be as helpful as 200 square meters of lawn, with two 10-year-old trees and fully grown grass. Both arrangements are capable of binding the same levels of Carbon Dioxide gas.
Further, the project’s author Doctor Ivan Spasojevic, added that no one aims to replace naturally grown forests. But the team wants to come up with a system equivalent. That can fill up places, and urban pockets have no space to plant trees.
Pre-requisite Of The Liquid Tree Serbia
Certain activists in Serbia always reported alarming pollution rates. They added that pollution in Serbia and other parts of the Balkan is so bad that one can smell, taste, and even see the same during autumn and winter.
In looking for the reason behind pollution, there are two coal power plants in the city. As per HEAL (Health And Environment Alliance), an NGO from Europe, these two power plants have their names in the top 10 power plants, emitting the ultimate pollutants.
IQAir’s 2019 World Air Quality Report shows that Serbia is the fifth most polluted country, with a PM 2.5 average air pollution level. Also, in the same year, scientists claimed that Serbia faced the most (175 per 100,000 people) pollution-related deaths in Europe.
Design Details
With so much to offer, spectators have been trying to find more info on Liquid tree design and maintenance.
As reported by Doctor Ivan Spasojevic, the institute used algae from fresh water available in the lakes and ponds of Serbia. This can also grow in tap water and resist high and low temperatures.
The Liquid Tree structure features a facade of stainless steel, with a height of 77 meters. The entire structure gets lit up by Arabic Calligraphy of 14000 meters. There is no need for special maintenance with the Liquid tree. One can remove the biomass the dividing algae produces and use it as plant fertilizers. After cleaning, the tank needs to be refilled with minerals and new water, based on which the same algae grows for an indefinite time frame.
The project aims to popularize the expansion of use cases of microalgae in Serbia. These can be used as compost in green areas, wastewater treatment, biofuels, and biomass production. Further, factories have been using the same to purify the air from exhaust gases.
The Liquid Tree’s Working Mechanism
As already discussed, the Liquid tree model can produce Oxygen at the same levels as trees 10 years old. These photobioreactors are 10 to 50 times better and more efficient than natural trees.
The Liquid tree concept is a futuristic approach to the treeless city centers serving as pollution hotspots. However, scientists are still working on its capabilities, making it well-suited for various pollution types. Reports back in 2022 suggested it costs around EUR 60 to maintain a handmade prototype.
