What's The Best Place For Your Teen To Learn How...

Dutch university trialing air-cleaning paving stones

 
799 views Aug 8, 2008
Follow Nelson

Dutch university trialing air-cleaning paving stones

Dutch university trialing air-cleaning paving stones

Enlarge Photo
The Dutch University of Twente is collaborating with the town of Hengelo to trial a new kind of paving stone that absorbs airborne pollutants. Based on Japanese technology, the stones have already passed basic effectiveness demonstrations, and are now being tested on a larger scale.

The stones work by having a top layer impregnated with titanium dioxide, a chemical that when exposed to sunlight binds with oxides of nitrogen produced by cars and other pollution sources. The pollutants are transmuted into nitrates, which are not harmful to the environment, during the process. Then the next time the rain comes along, it washes the stones clean.

Hengelo, and specifically the Castorweg area, was chosen for its relatively high volume of automobile traffic. The project will divide the street in two sections, one of which will be paved with normal stones, and the other with the special air-cleaning units. Air quality will then be monitored to gauge how much impact the stones have in real-world applications.

Another feature of the stones is that they repel dirt, helping the road to stay clean with out the use of human interference through street sweepers or other means. The test is being made possible in part by the stone producer, Struyk Verwo Infra, and as part of its 'Effective Sustainability' program, the host province of Overijssel is providing a grant as well.

The road will be finished by late 2008, with the air quality monitoring program to start early next year. The university hopes to announce its first results by summer 2009.



Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.