There air qualityespecially in large cities, has deteriorated. Thanks to atmospheric conditions, but also to the evolution of climate change and the increase in emissions, the ecosystem changes and does not always combine with a healthy existence. Especially those who live in Northern Italy and, specifically, in the vast area of the Po Valley, experience the problem first hand almost every day. The issue of air quality is crucial for the future of our cities and in this context it is necessary to develop solutions that can mitigate the problem and help improve the quality of life. In this sense, some research has demonstrated the effectiveness of microalgae for the natural ability to absorb CO2 and release oxygen.
Thanks to this property, these microscopic organisms act like real ones natural filtersreleasing oxygen in return. But they don’t only absorb carbon dioxide, because it has been shown that they are also able to “capture” nitrogen oxides (NOx), sodium oxides (SOx) and, above all, fine particulate matter, which is one of the main causes of urban pollution. The goal of “less CO2, more oxygen” is in the center of a far-sighted vision to improve the quality of life of human beings and it is for this reason that, globally, the microalgae sector is booming, as demonstrated by the copious investments in this sector by figures such as Bill Gatesalways sensitive to environmental and social issues, but not only that. Even the NASA has developed an interest in microalgae, like the European Commission which supports the development of green technologies.
Italy is not falling behind as demonstrated by some interested projects already developed and in continuous evolution such as MicroalgaeXfounded by Giuliano Regonesi, which focuses on biotechnological research on microalgae and their photosynthesis process. From these studies, systems such as Liquid Tree And Liquid Forestdesigned for the purification of urban air. They are already widespread and have attracted the interest of prominent figures in Milanese society such as Paolo Berlusconiwho displays an impressive example of Liquid Tree in his studio in the center of Milan. “For me it’s a good solution, but I’d like it to be tried in schools and hospitals. And why not, even in open spaces, in outdoor environments.
Like having small forests in our cities that provide oxygen“, declared Berlusconi, also underlining the social value of solutions like these. The union of nature and technology could represent a scalable solution for cities that are increasingly attentive to the quality of life of citizens.