Microalgae-powered air purification device tackles indoor CO₂ with scientific precision

Mumbai: In a city where air quality concerns often focus on traffic and industrial emissions, a 17-year-old student from Mumbai has turned attention to a quieter but equally pressing issue – indoor carbon dioxide levels. Hridank Garodia, a Grade 11 student at Dhirubhai Ambani International School, has developed Aerovive, a microalgae-based air purification device that directly addresses elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in enclosed spaces.

Garodia’s interest in the problem began with a simple observation: students struggled to concentrate during exams. His research revealed that CO₂ levels in classrooms frequently exceeded 1200–1500 parts per million (ppm), well above the threshold of around 945 ppm where cognitive performance begins to decline. The issue extended beyond schools to offices, clinics, gyms and homes – environments where people spend the majority of their time.

Aerovive offers a biologically driven solution. The compact unit uses living microalgae to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, effectively replicating the air-cleaning capacity of approximately 40 houseplants. Unlike conventional air purifiers that rely on filters or chemical treatments, Aerovive leverages photosynthetic organisms to perform continuous gas exchange. The device has undergone three rounds of prototyping and field testing, supported by researchers at IIT Bombay, and has demonstrated measurable reductions in indoor CO₂ levels.

Hridank Garodia

“We obsess over outdoor pollution, but spend 90% of our time indoors breathing air that’s often worse. Aerovive is designed to make homes, schools and offices healthier – so we can breathe better, think better and live better,” said Garodia.

The innovation has attracted attention from both scientific and commercial quarters. Aerovive was recognised at the IRIS National Science Fair and presented at the ICSEAT International Conference. It has also secured a ₹10 lakh Letter of Intent (LoI) for deployment in Mumbai’s largest office park, indicating early interest in scaling the technology for corporate environments.

Garodia’s work extends beyond the device itself. Through The Invisible Heroes Lab, he has developed a 15-session educational programme that introduces students to the unseen biological systems – algae, fungi and bacteria – that underpin environmental health. The initiative has reached over 1,000 students through workshops across Mumbai, with plans to engage hundreds more in the coming year.

The broader ambition is to integrate Aerovive into clinics, schools and corporate campuses, while expanding the educational outreach nationwide. Garodia’s approach combines scientific rigour with a focus on human wellness, positioning clean indoor air not just as a technical challenge but as a public health priority.

His efforts have earned recognition from institutions including National Geographic, where he received the Cultivating Empathy for Earth Award, and the World Science Scholars programme under physicist Brian Greene. Mentorship from experts at IIT Bombay and Harvard has helped refine both the technical and educational dimensions of his work.

Aerovive’s uniqueness lies in its biological foundation. While air purification technologies typically rely on mechanical filtration or ionisation, this device uses a living system to perform gas exchange – a method that is both energy-efficient and scalable. Its design reflects a growing interest in biomimicry and nature-based solutions to environmental challenges, particularly in urban settings where space and energy constraints limit traditional approaches.

Garodia’s innovation arrives at a time when indoor air quality is gaining renewed attention, especially in the context of post-pandemic health and workplace design. By focusing on CO₂, a gas often overlooked in indoor pollution discussions, Aerovive addresses a subtle but significant factor affecting cognitive function and overall wellbeing.

As the device moves toward broader deployment, its success will depend on sustained performance, ease of maintenance and cost-effectiveness. But its early reception suggests that biologically inspired solutions may have a growing role in how cities manage air quality – not just outdoors, but in the spaces where people live, learn and work.