The Problem

The automobile industry is the most extensive contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, accounting for over a quarter of all emissions. To mitigate this problem, electric cars were invented; however, they are not affordable and inefficient as the majority of electricity needed comes from fossil fuels. 

Our project takes a unique approach by filtering the carbon dioxide through a filter that uses algae's photosynthetic capabilites. Instead of reinventing the source of the emissions our product works within the car itself reducing carbon emissions to almost 0. We are effectively creating a sustainable solution to carbon emissions that is affordable and extremely easy to use for consumers. Additionally, if implemented to its potential it will lead to the biggest reduction in greenhouse gases in history, something that finally needs to take precedence. 

The inspiration for this project and our will to succeed comes from my partner who lost his debate teammate during Hurricane Ian. Since hurricanes have become more intense due to global warming, I knew that this issue needed to be dealt with from the source. However, all solutions are extremely expensive and too taxing on the average person to promote a large scale change. The solution therefore has to be effective, cheap, and virtually create no effort on the consumer which is exactly what the GoGreen filter does.

Your Solution

I developed a clamped filter containing algae species, water, and pure light allowing algae to convert CO2 into O2, which reduces GHG emissions. As CO2 discharges out of the exhaust pipe, the cylinder portion of the filter captures a share of the CO2 and performs photosynthesis to make O2. Inside the glass chambers is a layer of proprietary aluminum wire mesh holding the algae in place and water to provide the algae with fundamental nutrients. On the top of the cylinder and box portion are strips of white light, which act as the light source for the algae’s photosynthesis. The remaining CO2 will have to pass through three more algal plates. After photosynthesis is performed, the O2  gets released out of the exhaust pipe into the atmosphere.

My solution is superior to that of others in a few distinct ways. 

First, our solution is the only one in automobiles to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. The only other viable option, currently, is electric cars, which are counterproductive because they need to be charged with fossil fuels. Our product is the first of its kind that actually works within the car to limit GHG emissions and what makes it a vital technology of the future is how effective it actually is. Each plate filters the carbon dioxide by 14.85 percent. So in total, our project reduces carbon dioxide by 74.25 percent. 

*Lab Test Verified

Founding Story

Last year, when conducting research for my science fair project I came across the work of MIT professor Isaac Berzin. Berzin was the first to utilize algaes' photosynthetic capabilities in MIT's cogeneration plant. He found that algae had a tremendous ability to photosynthesize at an extremely fast rate as well as adapt to its environment. Since then our mission was born. We started designing a biome for algae. It initially contained one glass plate of algae but after rigorous testing and iteration we came up with a filter that utilizes a unique array of plates to reduce algae by almost 75%. 

Your Impact

My plans for the future is to eventually get necessary approvals to ensure that people who use our microalgae filter can drive in the H.O.V even if they don’t meet the passenger requirements as well as receive an additional tax credit from the EPA.  Second, we have already begun manufacturing our filter through Re: Build, but we would like to partner with other sustainable companies to expand our brand. This would help us achieve our ultimate goal-- #kickcarbontothecurb. This process has also led us to write a patent and we hope to get it approved in the near future. We want to grow our team with a marketer who can help us collaborate with other like minded organizations in order to create "buzz" around our product.  

Another main goal is to get efficiency past 90%. (Two current ideas being tested)

We are working to arrange our filter in a staggered plate design which could act as a coolant and thus turn CO₂ into carbonic acid. To do this we would embed sodium hydroxide into the filter, which with the carbonic acid would react to create sodium carbonate– a harmless and disposable byproduct. 

Additionally, natural selection makes the algae utilized in the filter more efficient because it adapts to its environment to survive. This only increases the photosynthesis rate, so a future goal is to utilize the naturally selected algae to make future filters more efficient. 

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