Taking inspiration from human lungs, young Colombian inventor Mariana Pérez’s device removes air pollutants and turns them into biodegradable materials.
Colombia’s Air Pollution Crisis and One Woman’s Big Idea
Pollution Numbers That Make Your Head Spin
Picture this: almost every single person in Colombia is breathing in air that’s, well, a little too dusty for your lungs.
- 99.3% of the population lives in zones that go beyond WHO’s “just‑right” standards.
- That means the majority of Colombians are lucky enough to get a free daily dose of extra pollutants.
Enter the Hero: Mariana Pérez
Mariana, a savvy entrepreneur, decided to turn her frustration into a game‑changing solution.
- Her invention tackles pollution and protects health.
- It turned out to be so impressive it landed her in the Top Ten Innovators of the Young Inventors Prize 2025— courtesy of the European Patent Office.
Why Her Achievement Matters
Being recognized by the EPO means the world is paying attention. It’s a stamp of approval for the tech that could help millions hitched a breath of cleaner air.
All Set to Spark Change
If Colombian skies are currently a runway for pollutants, Mariana’s gear is a well‑timed runway repair crew ready to swoop in.
Takeaway
From the glassy peaks of Ecuador’s climate times to the buzzing streets of Bogotá, one woman’s mission is a fresh wind of hope—and a reminder that brilliance can come disguised as a determined local entrepreneur.
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Transforming harmful gases into biodegradable materials
Meet the 27‑Year‑Old Air‑Cleaning Wizard, Pérez
Quick fact: She’s not just a founder – she’s a one‑woman science sorceress, flipping dirty air into eco‑friendly goodies.
What She’s Cooking Up
- Her tech sniffs out CO₂, which is the usual suspect, but it also tackles NO₂ and SO₂ – the sneaky villains that clog lungs.
- Unlike the standard “plug‑and‑play” carbon capture gear, Ecol‑Air whispers to the air like a friendly virtual doctor: it mimics our own lungs with artificial bronchioles and alveoli.
- The result? A giant vacuum that sucks in a chunk of air, passes it through the “lung‑simulator,” and flushes out the bad stuff into a neat storage system.
How the Magic Works
Picture this: a tall chimney or a freestanding billboard‑style stand. The machine plucks polluted breath and then breaks down the toxic gremlins into biodegradable polymers. Those polymers? They’re the next-gen, eco‑friendly building blocks.
- Think sustainable packaging that feels like a hug.
- Industrial components such as tiles and bags with a cleaner soul.
Why She’s Doing It
“Who would have thought air could be a goldmine?” that’s Pérez’s mantra. She says:
“People ignore that air is as essential as water. I decided to create this machine because we deserve cleaner skies and greener materials.”
And honestly, if she can turn a puff of pollution into a reusable resource, who says we can’t dream bigger?
Life Lessons from a Young Innovator
- Think big, act small: You can change the world starting from your kitchen sink.
- Fail forward: Every failed experiment is just a step toward a cleaner tomorrow.
- Laugh while you clean: If you’re having fun, the sky and the future feel a little lighter.
So next time you breathe, remember there’s a 27‑year‑old wizard keeping the air smooth and the planet happy – all thanks to a big vacuum, a bit of science, and a sprinkle of humor.
From childhood curiosity to industrial impact
How a Curious Kid With a Stubborn Nose Became the Clean Air Hero
Ever wonder how a little eight‑year‑old turned a rainy day into a breakthrough in air quality? Meet Pérez, whose fascination with the dirt that lingers after a rain‑washed car set her on a path that now cleans entire factories.
1⃣ The Spark That Ignited
- Childhood wonder: “I watched the rain wipe off my dad’s car and wondered, where did all that black dust go?” That simple question was the seed.
- She bounced from school science fairs to building prototype gadgets that would eventually become the first models of her Ecol-Air machine.
2⃣ Overcoming the “I Can’t” Moments
Pérez has never been shy about the doubts that tried to hold her back. “There were moments I questioned myself,” she confides. But she’s got a mantra: Ideas are only half the battle; turning them into real, scalable solutions is where the magic happens.
Key Take‑away
- Innovation is great, but commercial viability makes it truly game‑changing.
- Scientists’ role? “Build the tech, then hustle it to make it a viable business.”
3⃣ The “Free Demo” Game Plan
Facing lukewarm replies from manufacturers, Pérez rolled out a bold move: installing units for free in gigantic factories just to prove the point. It worked—Sumicol was the first to officially adopt the showstopper, with Incolmotos Yamaha following suit.
Why it worked
- Wealthy factories love proof of concept that they can trust.
- It gave her tech face‑time—literally—demonstrating its 70 tonnes of air processed daily at an impressive 82% efficiency in the 2021 pilot plant at Girardota.
4⃣ The Path Ahead
From rain‑washed curiosities to a fully commercial system, Pérez’s journey reminds us that the punchline to environmental innovation isn’t just the idea: it’s the hustle that brings it to the people who need it. And if she can prove her machine works in the biggest factories for free, anyone can turn a childhood question into a cleaner future.
Taking Ecol-Air global
Now living in New York, Pérez is preparing for global expansion. “Right now I’m focused on a global expansion because all the world needs to purify air,” she says. “We are focused on trying to put our machine in large industries. Our invention is in the Commercial Readiness Level9 stage, meaning that it is fully functional, fully operative and, of course, tested, and ready to be adopted by the market.”
With her innovation, Pérez is directly addressing multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As one of the EPO’s 2025 Tomorrow Shapers, she’s helping reshape how we think about pollution: not just as a problem to contain, but as a resource to transform.