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EPO: Transforming polluted air into biodegradable material: Colombian innovator Mariana Pérez in top 10 innovator in the Young Inventors Prize 2025
Fine particulate matter and harmful gases pose serious health risks, contributing to respiratory diseases and premature deaths. While existing carbon capture technologies primarily target CO₂, Pérez's invention goes further, capturing additional pollutants. Ecol-Air's technology is , using mechanical bronchioles and alveoli to optimise pollutant absorption. It can be installed on chimneys to draw in and process polluted air or used as a free-standing unit to purify ambient air. The captured , which can be used in eco-friendly packaging and industrial materials, like biodegradable bags or tiles.
Pérez's scientific interest began at the age of eight, when This curiosity later led her to develop early prototypes, refining them through science fairs and eventually securing investor support. Despite initial scepticism from industries, she installed her devices for free at large factories to prove their efficiency. Pérez explained.
Ecol-Air now collaborates with industrial and academic partners. Yamaha Colombia was the first to adopt the system commercially, followed by Sumicol-Corona. In 2023, the first air treatment plant using Ecol-Air technology opened in Girardota ( Colombia ), processing 70 tonnes of air daily with an 82% efficiency rate, according to the company estimations. The Air Innovation Center, set to open in Barbosa in 2025, is expected to process 497 tonnes of air per day and incorporate public awareness initiatives. To support the international expansion of her company, Pérez recently relocated to the United States .
Pérez's invention supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing harmful air pollutants and creating sustainable by-products.
Find more information (link) about the invention's impact, the technology and the inventor's story.
Aimed at individuals 30 and under, the Young Inventors Prize showcases the transformative power of youth-driven solutions and recognises the remarkable young people paving the way to a more sustainable future. Established in 2022, trophies were first handed out during the European Inventor Award ceremony. From 2025 onwards, the Prize will move up a gear with its own dedicated event, held separately from the Award. Among the 10 Tomorrow Shapers selected for each edition, three will be awarded a special prize: World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians. In addition, a People's Choice winner, voted by the public online, will be revealed. Each Tomorrow Shaper will receive EUR 5 000, the three special prize winners will each receive an extra EUR 15 000. The People's Choice winner will be awarded an additional EUR 5 000. Read more on the Young Inventors Prize eligibility and selection criteria.
With 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe . Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin , Brussels , The Hague and Vienna , the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe . Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.
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