Air Ink

Introduction to the Topic
Over the last 150 years, mankind has depended on burning fossil fuels directly or
indirectly for their energy needs. It emits a number of air pollutants that are harmful to both
the environment and public health. It also leads to air pollution. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), direct and indirect causes of air pollution result in 5 to 6 million
deaths in a year. It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere
and makes it difficult for plants, animals and humans to survive as the air becomes dirty.
Soot is the major byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels. Research has shown that
many premature deaths are directly related to soot in the environment. Particle exposure leads
to around 20,000 premature deaths in America each year. Data also shows that soot annually
causes almost 300,000 asthma attacks and 2 million lost workdays due to respiratory
problems.
The pollutants which could have been in the lungs of millions of people, or mixed into
our water, land streams are now beautifully resting as art, known as Air Ink.
What is Air Ink?

AIR-INK is an ink brand which produces ink and ink-based art products by condensing
soot-based gaseous effluents generated by motor vehicles due to incomplete combustion of fossil
fuels.
Anirudh Sharma, founder of Graviky Labs (a spin-off group of MIT Media Lab) first
conceived the idea of Air Ink in 2013 after he and his friends observed that his clothes were being
stained by air pollution.
Sharma and his team spent close to three years researching how to purify and repurpose
carbon soot from auto emissions, a major contributor to air pollution. Ink produces its materials
through a step-by-step process which primarily involves capturing of emissions, separation
of carbon from the soot, and then mixing of this carbon with different types of oils and solutions.
The main topic
What is Kaalink?
 Kaalink is a cylindrical device that is retrofitted into a vehicle's exhaust system to collect
the emissions.
 It can collect up to 93% of the total exhaust, which is then processed to remove heavy
metals and carcinogens.
 The end-product from this device is a purified carbon-based pigment. Kaalink has been
tested on cars, trucks, motorcycles and fishing boats in Bangalore and Hong Kong.
How does this technology works?

 The unit automatically turns on when an engine is activated and gases start flowing through
the exhaust.
 This activates the flow and thermo sensor, which, in turn, engages a mechatronic capture
system.
 All fine particle matter is then captured within the walls of the unit.
 However, gases are allowed to pass through, leaving the engine unaffected.
 When the lights on the exterior of the unit turn from blue to red, the catchment is full.
 Back in the lab, the captured pollution is taken through a process that removes trace heavy
metals and carcinogens.
 The purified soot goes through several industrial processes to make different types of inks
and paints.
 The soot collected undergoes various proprietary processes to remove heavy metals and
carcinogens.
 The end product is a purified carbon rich pigment.
 Purify the carbon pigment by cutting out the heavy metals, dust particles, and all other
harmful materials.
 The carbon is then used to make different types of inks and paints.
What are the benefits of Kaalink?
Kaalink is a kind of technology used to create Air-ink product. Air-ink produced by the
use of Kaalink was designed and developed by the Graviky Labs for many purposes which
includes the following:
 Air Ink is marketed as a solution to air pollution and its negative effects on human life.
 Dubbed as "the first ink made out of recycled air pollution.” Aside from cars, trucks,
motorcycles, and fishing boats, variations on the Kaalink device could potentially be
attached to chimneys, smoke stacks and other industrial exhaust systems.
 30–50 minutes of car pollution can supply enough carbon to fill one Air Ink pen.
 AIR-INK provides an environmentally friendly option for creative and is high quality.
The ink itself is thicker than most and can paint on rough surfaces without bleeding.
The color of the ink is solid black which fits perfectly with practice.
 On top of that, AIR-INK presents an incredible opportunity to form a creative community
of human beings who hope to make the world a little more sustainable and beautiful.
The Air-ink Range

0.7MM ROUND TIP
 Fine point marker for everyday creativity.
 Approximately 40 minutes of diesel car pollution.
2MM ROUND TIP

• Perfect for shading and small detail. Approximately 50 minutes of diesel car pollution.
15MM CHISEL TIP

 Thick lines, smooth strokes, great feel.
50MM WIDE TIP
 Made extra wide for murals and large-scale pieces.
600ML SPRAY CAN

 Quick action, fast dry, and covers any surface
250ML REFILL
 For when you run dry.
Lessen Air Pollution

Nowadays, air pollution is abundant everywhere and the invention of Kaalink is a great
help to lessen this kind of environmental issue. Kaalink was designed to convert the air pollution
into a usable ink called Air-ink for printing and painting which can be all use by anyone. With the
help of this invention, we can reduce pollution as well as our carbon footprint in which we all
know that this pollution caused by harmful chemicals is dangerous to human health and sometimes
causing many people to die.
Recycling the Carbon for Art Purposes

The invention of Kaalink doesn't only help to lessen the air pollution present in our country
but it can also help create some type of ink that can be used in many art purposes such as for
printing, painting, writing, and other related art needs and activities. In addition, Air-ink was
formulated to target permanency that can also be used in different applications such as Fabric,
outdoor paints, arts, graffiti, screen printing etc. The creation of air ink reduces the risk associated
by breathing-in a polluted air and it also enhances more the skills and capabilities of the artists by
expressing it in doing artworks.
Why this technology doesn’t exist yet in the Philippines?
Funding Sources Required to Support Ambitious Programs

Supported by robust economic growth and development funding, the Philippines is now more
capable of financing projects than it has been in the past. International development funding from
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has
been granted to the country for development. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the
establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), of which the Philippines is a
member, will also open up new funding sources for these projects in the country. Furthermore,
President Duterte is now pursuing closer economic cooperation with China, opening a host of
opportunities for Chinese companies to participate in the activities of the Philippines.
In spite of this enhanced ability to fund public projects, President Duterte’s investment targets
remain highly ambitious. The ADB has recognised that the Philippine capital market and non-bank
finance are not resilient enough to gauge financing risk
Capacity Building in Project Development
In addition to concerns over funding, the Philippines suffers from insufficient capacity to build
and operate viable and sustainable projects. For example, in building infrastructures, both the
government and industry need better infrastructure services. On the government side, technical
assistance in feasibility studies, public expenditure management, organisational management,
public services management and financial modelling should be better engaged. The efficiency and
reliability of built infrastructure, whether constructed or managed by the government or by private
companies, remains poor.
On the industry side, professional services such as project development, transaction advice and
technical feasibility studies are not readily available locally. The skills, organisation and
mobilisation of Filipino construction workers are not up to the standards of their ASEAN
counterparts in countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.
Delaying of Projects
The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, other foreign and local banks have been
supporting the country with multi-billion dollar projects and programs for development.
Ultimately, we know that these are all converted to loans and will be eventually paid by the
taxpayer.
The frustrating side of every public project or program is its sustainability. For example,
infrastructure projects to build roads and bridges, set up electricity or water pipes in remote areas
– more often than not, are not completed on time. Sometimes, when corruption comes into play,
you will see that a project created to build a bridge was unnecessary because there was no river
after all, to traverse in the first place.
Presidents, cabinet secretaries and mayors come and go, and instead of continuing /
improving programs, they make new ones – worsening and delaying the development that the
country badly needs.
The possible solutions to solve these problems and eventually for the said technology to exist in
the Philippines
Funding Sources Required to Support Ambitious Programs

To widen funding for the said technology as well as for other various programs, it will be
necessary for the Philippines to engage with investors both locally and internationally. The country
must also broaden access to infrastructure finance and investment funds to deliver financially
feasible and sustainable projects.
Capacity Building in Project Development
On the government side, it must provide enough assistance for this technology to be fully
introduced in the Philippines. On the industry side, the country may require greater involvement
of foreign companies with the skill sets needed for the technology’s betterment and development.
Delaying of Projects
In order for this technology to exist in our country, maybe we can submit a petition to the
government office in order for this proposal be really attained for it is not only for the sake of
Filipinos but also for those foreign people who wanted to visit our country. It is a privilege or
honor of a certain country to be known as a polluted air-free right? So everyone must make a move
to achieve that title.
Recommendations for future development of this specific technology
Wider usage
Factories pollute the air through fossil fuel emissions. These emissions include carbon
dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Combustion creates these toxic pollutants. While all of these
are naturally-occurring substances, it is the high levels of emissions which are of concern.
Industrial processes will also emit manmade emissions such as fluorine-containing gases such as
hydrofluorocarbons.
From this event, we highly recommend that the Kaalink device will not just be available
on cars, trucks, motorcycles, and fishing boats but also for these factories that greatly contribute
to air pollution.
Large scale
Graviky Labs, the company behind Air Ink, claims the ink products can help reduce
vehicular pollution in cities. However, one of the company's lead engineers said, "Unless it is
deployed on a large scale and there is an entire ecosystem around it, its effect will be minimal.”
For future development as well as advancement, a partnership between the Graviky Labs
and car manufacturers could take into consideration. The Kaalink device could be used to become
a part of the system of the car to decrease the pollution it emits. Also, it could be advertise to a
broader pool of car owners, in order for them to become fully aware of the product.

Air Ink

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Introduction to the Topic

What is Air Ink?

How does this technology works?

The Air-ink Range

2MM ROUND TIP

15MM CHISEL TIP

600ML SPRAY CAN

Lessen Air Pollution

Recycling the Carbon for Art Purposes

Why this technology doesn’t exist yet in the Philippines?

Funding Sources Required to Support Ambitious Programs

Funding Sources Required to Support Ambitious Programs

Recommendations for future development of this specific technology

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