Making Ink From Air Pollution: A Creative Solution

Air-Ink is a brand of ink made from air pollution. The idea was conceived by Anirudh Sharma, the founder of Graviky Labs, during an experiment at MIT. The process involves capturing emissions, separating the carbon, and mixing it with different types of oils and solutions to create ink. The KAALINK device, which can be fitted to an exhaust pipe, captures the soot produced from burning diesel fuel. This fine black powder is then mixed with solvents to create ink. The benefits of this process are twofold: it recycles the material into ink and replaces the carbon black that would have been used to make black ink.

AIR-INK: The world's first ink made from air pollution

AIR-INK is the world's first ink made from air pollution. The idea for this unique product was conceived by Anirudh Sharma, the founder of Graviky Labs, during an experiment at MIT while designing a printer that could print with carbon nanoparticles. Sharma and his team spent close to three years researching how to purify and repurpose carbon soot from auto and factory emissions, which are major contributors to air pollution and the global carbon footprint.

The process of making AIR-INK involves capturing emissions, separating the carbon from them, and then mixing this carbon with different types of oils and solutions to achieve advanced material properties. The KAALINK device, co-invented by Nitesh Kadyan and Nikhil Kaushik, can be fitted to the exhaust systems of cars, trucks, and generators to capture particulate matter. The device can stay on an exhaust system for about 15 to 20 days, after which the disposable cartridges are sent to Graviky Labs for treatment. This treatment process involves removing heavy metals and toxins to create safe, usable AIR-INK.

The resulting ink is a densely colored, free-flowing black ink that has been praised for its superior qualities as an art product. Artist Ellen Lupton, a senior curator at Cooper Hewitt, noted that the ink is super black, withstands prolonged use, holds up on a variety of surfaces and mediums, and won't bleed through paper or dry out quickly. Each AIR-INK pen contains 30-50 minutes of air pollution, equating to about 45 minutes of diesel car pollution.

Since 2016, Graviky Labs has cleaned 1.6 trillion liters of air, producing more than 1,200 liters of AIR-INK. The company has partnered with various organizations to promote AIR-INK and raise awareness about air pollution, including a 2017 Kickstarter campaign that raised over $29,000, and a collaboration with Singapore-based Tiger Beer to create street art and murals in cities like Hong Kong, Berlin, and London.

KAALINK: The device that captures air pollution

KAALINK is a device that captures air pollution and turns it into ink. The device was invented by Graviky Labs, a startup founded by Anirudh Sharma, a graduate of MIT Media Labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The idea for KAALINK was conceived when Sharma noticed that his white T-shirts were accumulating what looked like dirt during a trip to India in 2012. Recognising this as air pollution caused by soot particulate matter from vehicle exhaust, Sharma saw the potential for creating ink from this pollution.

KAALINK works by being retrofitted into the exhaust systems of diesel generators and vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, to capture the soot that is produced from burning diesel and fossil fuels. The device can collect up to 93% of the total exhaust, which is then processed and treated to remove heavy metals, toxins, and carcinogens. The resulting end product is a purified carbon-based pigment that can be used to create ink for pens, markers, and printers.

One of the key advantages of KAALINK is its ability to capture and recycle particulate matter that would otherwise be released into the air or end up in rivers or landfills. This not only helps to reduce air pollution and its negative impacts on human health but also provides a sustainable source of carbon for ink production, eliminating the need to burn new fossil fuels. The ink produced by KAALINK, known as AIR-INK, has been praised for its superior qualities, including its deep black colour, durability, and versatility on various surfaces.

Since its development, KAALINK has been commercially piloted in diesel generators across India, capturing 1.6 billion micrograms of particulate matter, equivalent to cleaning approximately 1.6 trillion litres of outdoor air. The ink produced from this process has been supplied to artists worldwide, who have used it to create street art, murals, body art, sketches, and clothing prints. KAALINK has also gained interest from companies and organisations in India looking to capture soot from diesel generators used to power hospitals, malls, schools, and apartment complexes.

The process of turning soot into ink

Once the KAALINK device has captured the soot, it is sent to Graviky Labs for treatment. The treatment process involves filtering, grinding to a standard size, and liquifying the particulate matter to create a densely coloured, free-flowing black ink. This ink is then used to fill AIR-INK pens and markers, with one 30-millilitre pen containing the equivalent of 30-50 minutes of diesel car pollution.

The KAALINK device can also be scaled up for larger applications, such as factory smokestacks, and can even capture particulates directly from the air. This versatility allows for the collection of carbon from a variety of sources, contributing to the production of more ink.

Overall, the process of turning soot into ink involves capturing soot from pollution sources, treating and transforming it into ink, and then utilising this ink for artistic and writing purposes, with the added benefit of reducing the negative effects of air pollution.

Benefits of using air pollution to make ink

The process of making ink from air pollution has several benefits. Firstly, it helps to reduce air pollution by capturing and recycling the particulate matter emitted from vehicles, factories, and machinery. This particulate matter, known as PM2.5, is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels and is harmful to human health and the environment. By converting it into ink, we can prevent it from being inhaled by millions or contaminating water and soil.

Another benefit of using air pollution to make ink is the creation of a useful product from a waste stream. Carbon black, the substance produced by incomplete burning of fossil fuels, is a key component in the production of ink, rubber, paints, and plastics. By using air pollution as a source of carbon black, we can reduce the need to burn new fossil fuels specifically for ink production, conserving resources and reducing the environmental impact of ink manufacturing.

The ink produced from air pollution, known as AIR-INK, has been praised for its superior qualities as an art product. It produces a super black color that withstands prolonged use, works on various surfaces and mediums, and does not bleed through paper or dry out quickly. Artists who have used AIR-INK have expressed surprise at its functionality and the fun of using it to create art.

Additionally, the process of making ink from air pollution has the potential to build communities. By partnering with artists and companies, such as Singapore-based Tiger Beer, AIR-INK has been used to create street art and murals in cities like Hong Kong, Berlin, and London. This collaborative approach not only raises awareness about air pollution but also engages communities in a creative and meaningful way.

Lastly, the technology used to capture air pollution and convert it into ink can be scaled up to tackle industrial applications. The KAALINK device, developed by Graviky Labs, can be customized for larger sources of pollution, such as factory smokestacks, and can even capture particulates directly from the air. This scalability allows for a greater impact on reducing air pollution and producing ink on a larger scale.

Artists using AIR-INK to create murals and other artworks

In 2016, Anirudh Sharma, the inventor of AIR-INK, partnered with Singapore-based brewery Tiger Beer to create street art and murals using AIR-INK in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan district. This initiative was aimed at building a community rather than making money. Since then, AIR-INK has been used by artists in various cities, including London, Berlin, and Hong Kong, to create murals and other public artworks.

One notable artist who has used AIR-INK is Ellen Lupton, a senior curator at Cooper Hewitt. She used AIR-INK markers to stencil part of an exhibition's message onto reclaimed wood and other recycled materials. Lupton was impressed by the marker's "superior qualities," noting its deep black colour, durability, versatility, and resistance to bleeding and drying out.

The process of creating AIR-INK involves capturing air pollution, primarily from vehicle and machinery exhaust, and turning it into a safe, high-quality ink for artistic use. The microscopic particulate matter, known as PM2.5, is filtered, ground to a standard size, and liquified using a proprietary process, resulting in a densely coloured, free-flowing black ink.

The use of AIR-INK in art not only creates unique and impactful pieces but also raises awareness about air pollution and its negative effects on human life. By using ink made from recycled air pollution, artists can send a powerful message about the importance of addressing this global issue.

One example of this is the collaboration between Tiger Beer and Graviky Labs, which provided artists in Hong Kong with AIR-INK to create murals addressing air pollution. This project won several awards, including a Gold at Cannes Lions for outdoor impact innovation, and helped spread Graviky Labs' message worldwide.

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