Abstract:
Biomass is widely regarded as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels; however,
its combustion can generate harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO),
nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM), which contribute to global
warming, acid rain, and adverse health effects. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that continued reliance on fossil fuel-based
energy systems could increase global average temperatures by 1.4°C to 5.8°C by
2100. This research developed an integrated IoT-based air quality monitoring and
treatment system for biomass heat generators, capable of real-time measurement
and analysis of combustion characteristics, including CO, NO2, and particulate
matter (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10). The multistage treatment system consists of a
reagent spray reactor (180°C–400°C) using AdBlue for ammonia generation, a selective
catalytic reduction reactor (300°C–700°C) for NOx reduction, and a TiO2-
coated photocatalytic reactor (150°C–250°C) illuminated by UV-A light. The
exhaust gas monitoring system was implemented using an ESP32 microcontroller
integrated with MiCS-4514, PMS7003, and DHT11 sensors, with data transmitted
to cloud-based platforms for remote monitoring and an automated email alert
system. The experiment was conducted using rubber, cinnamon, and Gliricidia
wood at five mass increments (0.25 kg–1.25 kg), each across 20–40 minute combustion
cycles. The results demonstrated significant emission reductions across
all biomass types. Rubber wood achieved reductions of 48.75% in NO2, 32.06% in
CO, 40.83% in PM1.0, 76.53% in PM2.5, and 76.21% in PM10. Cinnamon wood
showed reductions of 32.38% in NO2, 28.84% in CO, 44.10% in PM1.0, 72.40% in
PM2.5, and 72.17% in PM10. Gliricidia wood exhibited reductions of 41.71% in
NO2, 30.81% in CO, 42.31% in PM1.0, 73.97% in PM2.5, and 74.74% in PM10.
The proposed integrated system offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for
small to medium-scale industries, enabling compliance with emission regulations
while supporting sustainable biomass-based energy utilization.
