A domestic knowledge-based company has produced a catalytic converter based on nanotechnology, which is considerably cheaper than its foreign counterparts.
With the beginning of the winter season and air inversion, major industrial cities face serious challenges regarding air pollution, which has a negative effect on the physical and mental health of their residents.
Inhaling polluted air, especially airborne particles, can cause cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and cause serious disruption in medical and industrial sectors. For this reason, city managers are looking for ways to minimize the amount of air pollution in cities, the news portal of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology reported.
Part of this serious problem can be solved with the help of emerging technologies and high-tech Iranian products. Nanotechnology boosts the efficiency of catalytic materials and improves the performance of catalytic converters.
For instance, nano-based catalytic converters expedite oxidation reduction, turn exhaust gas emissions into less toxic pollutants and curb air pollution.
Parto Farazan Avizeh Kimia Company can supply catalytic converters to domestic automobile companies at one-third of the price of its foreign counterparts.
While they are commonly used in passenger vehicles, other devices and machines that worsen air pollution such as mining equipment, buses, locomotives, motorbikes, trucks, electrical generators and even ships can also be equipped with this product.
Usually, these vehicles and machines use a catalytic converter in their exhaust, but in some cases, two catalytic converters are used to reduce a larger volume of air pollution.
In this product, all precious metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium, are distributed in the form of nanoparticles on catalytic base surfaces that have high porosity.
Another important advantage of catalytic converters is that they can transform about 98% of harmful and toxic gases produced by vehicles and machines into less harmful and toxic gases.
Nanotech Products Enhance Agro-Industrial Productivity
A knowledge-based company has designed a radiator with high resistance to rust and corrosion by using nanotechnology.
Different types of radiators are used for heating residential, office and commercial units and their efficiency is ensured by lower corrosion, higher lifespan and elevated rust-resistance, the news portal of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology reported.
Tash Radiator Company’s product has incorporated all these features.
Radiators are made with aluminum, steel, copper and cast-iron bodies to reduce the likelihood of corrosion caused by water and humidity.
The company uses a surface coating to increase the radiator’s resistance against rust and corrosion. Phosphate or chromate coatings are the most common materials used for this purpose, but they endanger the environment and human health.
However, the domestic radiator has a zirconium coating applied with the help of nanotechnology that makes it possible to apply very thin coatings in nanometer dimensions and achieve proper adhesion and higher corrosion resistance.
Lowering Fertilizer, Pesticide Use With Nanotech
Another knowledge-based company has produced plant seeds that lower fertilizer and pesticide consumption by using a nanofiber coating.
The high-quality seed coated by nanotechnology increases its resistance to plant diseases and reduces the need for fertilizer.
Fidar Bespar Ark Company succeeded in producing seeds covered with nanofiber accelerators.
As a result of the wastage of at least 3% of seeds during cultivation due to weak seeds or attacks by pests in the first season, Iran prevented the outflow of scarce foreign exchange for importing seeds annually by supplying high quality seeds.
The main advantages of using nanotechnology in seed production is that the cost, environmental pollution, fertilizer waste and likelihood of diseases decline.
Nanotech Optimizes Desalination
A knowledge-based company had earlier designed an electrodialysis system for desalination that can meet part of Iran’s drinking water needs.
Given the declining rainfall, growing population and the rising industrial demand for water worldwide, desalination is the best option for countries with access to seawater. Nevertheless, the process is expensive and consumes a great deal of energy.
However, with the use of an electrodialysis process, which consumes less energy, Payamavaran Nanotechnology Fardanegar Company has been able to provide a cost-effective solution using nanotechnology for desalination.
The process uses an electrochemical technique, whereby contaminants are removed from the aqueous solution using anionic and cationic membranes with the help of an electric current.
Some features of this domestic process include the possibility of desalination of both brackish water and seawater with an efficiency of 85-95%, consumption of less energy compared to other methods, allowing membranes to last more than five years, decreasing operating costs and making pre-treatment unnecessary.
Experts and technologists have been using different processes to bring seawater into the consumption cycle in the most environmentally friendly and inexpensive way.
In Iran, knowledge-based and creative companies have started to localize these processes to compensate the country's chronic water deficit.
