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MEI Online: Commodities: Non-Metallic Ores: Diamond: Latest News: May 14th 2014

 
 

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:: Chinese Way to Deal with Smog: Turn it into Diamonds

 

Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde and a team of other artists and engineers are developing a new, energy-friendly mechanism that sucks smog out of the air and transforms it into diamonds.

While in a small scale model for now, this giant sort of electronic vacuum cleaner will be tested next year in China's notoriously polluted capital, according to a press release.

The vacuum would be at a city park and would work by attracting smog particles into a tower fitted with ionic filters that charge and remove smog particles, blowing fresh air out of the equipment’s side vents. Copper coils buried underground would generate an electromagnetic field that attracts the smog particles.

While the artist acknowledges his project is more of a way of drawing attention to the problem, rather than a viable solution to Beijing’s air pollution, he says the diamonds he could produce can be used to raise awareness.

“These [diamonds] can be used to create locally produced high-end rings. Each ring supports the cleaning of 1km3 of polluted air," he says.

Man-made diamonds are nothing new. General Electric created precious stones in a lab in 1950s, presumably for commercial use. But it wasn’t until 1970 that the firm was able to produce gem-quality diamond crystals, their lengthy procedure made production rather unsustainable.

 

 

   

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