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Portable Pollution Scrubber Promises Cleaner Air for Indian Cities
13 Nov
Summary
- CSIR-IITR scientists develop MultiPLE-ATMOS, a machine to clean polluted air
- Device can reduce key air pollutants by 83-94% and treat up to 1,000 cubic meters per hour
- Prototype aligns with India's National Clean Air Programme and Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative
In November 2025, scientists at the CSIR-IITR research institute in Lucknow, India, unveiled a groundbreaking new device to combat air pollution in the country's cities. The machine, called MultiPLE-ATMOS, is a portable air purifier that can effectively remove a wide range of pollutants, including particulate matter, toxic gases, and even airborne pathogens.
According to IITR director Bhaskar Narayan, the device integrates multiple purification technologies to tackle the full spectrum of ambient air pollutants defined under India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In trials, MultiPLE-ATMOS has demonstrated the ability to reduce key pollutants by 83-94% and can treat up to 1,000 cubic meters of air per hour.
Crucially, the system is designed to be easily transported to high-pollution hotspots, such as traffic junctions, industrial zones, and construction sites. The prototype aligns with the goals of India's National Clean Air Programme and supports the government's Atma Nirbhar Bharat self-reliance initiative.
With the device now ready for industrial adaptation and mass production, Narayan is hopeful that policymakers and industries will collaborate to deploy these systems in public spaces, providing a practical solution to tackle urban air pollution in India.
