Low-Cost PM 2.5 Sensor and Cost-Effective Air Purification Study for Household Implementation

Particulate matters (PM) 2.5 is one of the most growing concerns during the past few years. Most effectively, air purifiers can reduce harmful PM in any closed spaces. However, economical affordability and health awareness still becomes a limit of device's viability, especially for lower middle-income countries. This study aims to investigate a low-cost PM 2.5 sensor (LCPMS) to quantify a cost-effective household solution of air purification by applying HEP A filter on a cooling fan. In evaluation of various factors involved in venting positions, filter layers, layout configurations, LCPMS can provide quantitative information to determine feasibility of cost-effective solution, reducing air pollution at the efficiency of 91.23% and 96.44% for 1 and 2 filters, respectively, in a range of 43 to 264 μg.m-3 PM2.5 level. Ultimately, the solution was validated on 22-inch conventional fan in 27-m² room, explicitly confirming a substantial reduction of indoor air pollution by 64.4 % within 20 minutes at a cost less than $5 USD.