Carbon Buster: A Novel Prototype to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Exhaust Systems.

Overview

Carbon dioxide from combustion engines is a major contributor to climate change. I initially designed a system that used chemical reactions to absorb and trap carbon dioxide. Exhaust gas bubbled through a chamber with limewater and then through a second chamber containing soda lime pellets. Although it achieved up to 98.7% reduction, the system was bulky and impractical for real use. In this project, I redesigned the prototype into a compact device that attaches to an exhaust pipe. Instead of large chambers and heavy pellets, I used foam soaked in limewater. By testing different materials, I discovered activated carbon foam significantly improved performance, reducing carbon dioxide by 84%. This project shows emissions can be reduced directly at the source while the world transitions to cleaner energy. Future work will focus on selecting durable materials for real exhaust conditions, ensuring safety, and minimizing effects on engine performance.

Awards (2)

• Bronze Medal
• Selected for CWSF 2026

Competition history

• CWSF 2026 Environment & Climate Change

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