Recommended Free Tools
Yes, AIR-INK is a real product made using soot captured from exhaust—but it is not a machine that purifies an entire city. Graviky Labs developed KAALINK, a device fitted to selected exhaust sources to collect carbon-rich particulate matter. The collected material is purified and made into pigment for markers and printing ink. That is a useful form of emissions recovery, not a substitute for preventing pollution at its source.
Who developed AIR-INK?
The project was developed by Graviky Labs, founded by Anirudh Sharma with Nikhil Kaushik and Nitesh Kadyan. Coverage of the project has also identified Nisheet Singh as a technical-development lead, which helps explain why some accounts describe a four-person team while company profiles foreground three founders. MIT Solve describes Graviky Labs as an MIT spinoff founded in May 2016; Sharma’s concept grew out of work associated with the MIT Media Lab. MIT Solve’s profile and Scroll’s 2017 account describe the team and early development.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The idea dates to the early 2010s. Scroll reported field testing in Delhi in 2015, while Graviky says AIR-INK emerged through a collaboration with Heineken in 2016. A Kickstarter campaign in February 2017 sought funding for mass production; Scroll reported that it passed its $14,000 goal within 10 days. Those are milestones in the product’s history, not evidence of current production volume.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How does soot become ink?
The basic path is exhaust source → particulate capture → cleaning and processing → carbon-rich pigment → ink formulation. KAALINK was designed as an attachment for exhaust systems, particularly diesel generators and small industrial chimneys. The captured material is mainly soot: carbon-rich particles produced by combustion. MIT News’ 2017 description and MIT Solve’s profile explain the source-capture approach.
#1 Best Overall
- Eco-friendly Writing Pens: Our writing pens are crafted from 68% recycled materials (GRS Certified; Global Recycled Standards), making them the ideal choice for environmentally conscious consumers. These ink pens provide an eco-friendly option for all your writing needs
- Smooth Ink Pen Performance: Experience unparalleled smoothness with our ink pen. The smooth writing pens feature a 1.0mm tip that ensures a consistent ink flow, making it perfect for both professional and personal use
- Convenient Retractable Pens: Our retractable pens offer ease of use with a simple click mechanism, eliminating the need for a cap. These recycled pens are designed for convenience and efficiency in every stroke
- Durable Metal Clip Design: Each of our writing pens is equipped with a durable metal clip, ensuring secure attachment to notebooks or pockets. These ink pens are perfect for both office supplies and school supplies
- Reliable 1.0mm Ballpoint Pens: These 1.0mm pens provide precise and dependable writing. Our ballpoint pens are designed for those who demand reliability and quality, making them essential for your office and school supplies
What it captures—and what it does not
PM2.5 refers to particles small enough to meet a size threshold; it is not a single chemical. Soot can be part of particulate pollution, but it is not the same thing as carbon dioxide. Nor does collecting soot automatically remove gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide or volatile organic compounds. KAALINK should therefore be described as a particulate-capture device, not a general-purpose air purifier or a CO₂ capture system.
Why purification matters
Raw soot is not ready to put in a marker. Historical reporting says Graviky’s process removes contaminants such as heavy metals, dust and carcinogenic material before the remaining carbon-rich material is made into pigment. The company says it analyzes and segregates captured emissions with third-party accredited laboratories and tests formulations for safety and durability on its Our Story page. The available descriptions do not specify the purification chemistry, capture efficiency, contaminant profile or full laboratory protocols, so those details should not be assumed.
Rank #2
- Crafted with recycled materials, these "Bottle to Pen" gel pens deliver the smooth performance you need for a hard day's work. G-2 ink produces crystal-clear, clean lines. Once you've completed your assignments, simply retract the tip to help keep the pen from drying out.
- Vibrant G-2 gel ink writes smoothly on paper.
- These Pilot pens are refillable for continued use. G-2 refills are sold separately.
- These pens' black ink produces bold, dark lines that are easy to see.
- Refillable - designed to be used repeatedly, helping you avoid single-use disposables and potentially save money.
What is AIR-INK used for?
Graviky has used the pigment in artist markers and screen-printing ink, and the company’s current catalog also lists refill ink. Earlier coverage described murals and public-art uses; Scroll reported that commercial-printer applications were being explored, not that the ink had universal compatibility with industrial printers. The official catalog shows a product line centered on black carbon pigment.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Marker specifications vary by product. The company describes some markers for surfaces including canvas, wood, metal, walls and glass, and product pages make product-specific claims about properties such as water resistance, light-fastness or permanence. Check the exact marker and intended surface rather than treating those claims as universal: see the 30 mm marker and 2 mm marker pages.
Rank #3
- One pen bulk package includes 48 pens total; there are four boxes with 12 pens in each box of the Ecolutions Clic Stic Retractable Ballpoint Pens
- Each pen is made from 78% recycled plastic *excluding ink cartridge, and the paperboard packaging is made of 100% recycled content and is recyclable
- Quality ink pen has a multipurpose medium 1.0 mm ballpoint, making it suitable for everyday writing in notebooks, journals or on sticky notes
- Unleash hours of effortless writing in black ink using the smooth writing ink system of this BIC retractable pen
- The classic, slender, semi-clear barrel makes it easy to check pen ink levels and makes the pen generally comfortable to hold
What do the reported numbers mean?
| Claim | What it describes | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| About 30 mL of ink from roughly 45 minutes of captured emissions | A yield reported by Scroll in 2017 | Historical figure, not a guaranteed yield. The source, operating conditions and purification losses can affect output. Scroll, 2017 |
| 1.6 trillion liters of air | A company estimate reported by MIT in 2017 alongside particulate capture | It should not be read as 1.6 trillion liters of air made clean; the accounting method is not supplied in that report. MIT News, 2017 |
| About 120 g of particulate-matter carbon emissions in a 450 mL bottle | The claim on the India-labeled permanent artist-marker refill page | This is the company’s product-page description, not an independently established measurement. Official refill page |
| More than 1,000 artists | A historical project or company figure reported in 2017-era coverage | Not a current user count. MIT News |
Does it purify choking cities?
Only locally and conditionally. A capture device may reduce particulate emissions from an exhaust source where it is fitted and properly operated. It cannot retrieve pollution that has already dispersed, capture emissions from sources without a device, or address every pollutant in urban air. A city-scale effect would depend on deployment across a substantial share of relevant sources, as well as practical operation and maintenance.
There is also an engineering question that the public descriptions do not settle: how a particular installation affects exhaust back pressure, fuel consumption, engine performance, filter loading, maintenance intervals and fire risk. Compatibility should not be assumed across generators, fuels, loads or regulatory settings. For city air, reducing combustion through cleaner fuels, electrification, renewable power, industrial controls, emissions standards and effective public transport addresses pollution closer to its source. Turning some soot into a useful material is downstream mitigation, not a replacement for those measures.
Rank #4
- GO GREEN WITH B2P PILOT PENS: B2P Colors Retractable Gel Roller Pens are made from recycled bottles! These refillable pens feature G2 Ink, and are comfortable to hold so you can journal, take notes and sketch a cityscape while protecting the planet
- IT'S EASY BEING GREEN: The B2P pens Colors line features brilliant G2 gel ink colors, such as lime, orange, pink & purple with matching barrel colors. So, now you can go green no matter which color you prefer to write with at home, school or work
- ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE: Want to make your everyday essentials a little more eco-chic? Try B2P Gel Roller Pens, which are nice pens made from recycled water bottles & feature Pilot's long-lasting, vibrant G2 Gel Ink for smooth, effortless writing
- TRUSTED QUALITY: We've been making pens for over 100 years. Whether you need a writing pen for taking notes, stocking up on school or office supplies, or a journaling pen for writing in a bullet journal, Pilot has the perfect pen for you!
- POWER TO THE PEN: Pilot makes exceptional writing instruments to suit all your needs. We have fountain pens, ballpoint, retractable, erasable & gel ink pens plus whiteboard markers for every writing style
How safe and sustainable is the ink?
Safety depends on the product and use
Raw soot may contain hazardous substances, which is why purification is essential. Graviky says it tests its formulations, but the public description does not identify all standards, test results or intended-use boundaries. The company describes its water-based screen-printing ink as “non-toxic” and RoHS compliant. Those are product-specific company claims; they do not establish that every AIR-INK formulation is safe to inhale, safe for skin contact, suitable for children, or appropriate for food packaging. Buyers considering those uses should request the safety data sheet and relevant product-specific test reports.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCarbon-negative is a marketing claim, not a complete accounting
The screen-print ink product page calls the product “Negative Carbon Footprint.” That is the company’s claim, not an independently verified conclusion established by the information available here. A full assessment would need to account for manufacturing and transporting KAALINK, energy used in capture and purification, treatment of filtered residues, ink production and packaging, shipping, the conventional pigment being displaced, and what happens when the ink is discarded or burned.
Best Value
- Eco-friendly Writing Pens: Our writing pens are crafted from 68% recycled materials (GRS Certified; Global Recycled Standards), making them the ideal choice for environmentally conscious consumers. These ink pens provide an eco-friendly option for all your writing needs
- Smooth Ink Pen Performance: Experience unparalleled smoothness with our ink pen. The smooth writing pens feature a 1.0mm tip that ensures a consistent ink flow, making it perfect for both professional and personal use
- Convenient Retractable Pens: Our retractable pens offer ease of use with a simple click mechanism, eliminating the need for a cap. These recycled pens are designed for convenience and efficiency in every stroke
- Durable Metal Clip Design: Each of our writing pens is equipped with a durable metal clip, ensuring secure attachment to notebooks or pockets. These ink pens are perfect for both office supplies and school supplies
- Reliable 1.0mm Ballpoint Pens: These 1.0mm pens provide precise and dependable writing. Our ballpoint pens are designed for those who demand reliability and quality, making them essential for your office and school supplies
What happens to purification residue?
Scroll’s 2017 reporting says waste from purification was sorted and recycled through waste-management companies. That is a company-reported practice; the cited account does not establish the residue composition, chain-of-custody documentation or results of third-party waste audits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you buy AIR-INK now?
The official website and store catalog continue to present AIR-INK as a product line. On August 18, 2026, the catalog and product pages displayed the following prices, while several listings also showed sold-out status. Treat these as displayed catalog prices, not a promise of stock or a current quote; check availability and shipping to your location before ordering.
| Product | Displayed price | Details and availability |
|---|---|---|
| 0.7 mm marker | $11 | Listed in the catalog; confirm stock at checkout. Official catalog |
| 2 mm marker | $12 | Listed in the catalog; product page provides product-specific claims. Product page |
| 15 mm marker | $13 | Listed in the catalog; confirm stock at checkout. Product page |
| 30 mm marker | $15 | Listed in the catalog; confirm stock at checkout. Product page |
| 50 mm marker | $15 | Listed in the catalog; confirm stock at checkout. Product page |
| Permanent artist-marker refill | $85 | 450 mL bottle; page showed sold out. The product description claims about 120 g of particulate-matter carbon emissions. Product page |
| Water-based screen-print ink | $50 | 800 g container; page showed sold out. Product page |
These are India-labeled product pages or catalog listings, so confirm the seller’s shipping destination, taxes, import requirements and any relevant material-handling rules. The listed marker widths range from 0.7 mm to 50 mm; refill ink is intended for refillable AIR-INK markers and can also be applied with brushes or other media, according to its product page.
What to check before choosing it
- Match the application: sketching, murals, signage and screen printing have different requirements. Do not assume the ink is compatible with an industrial printer just because it is an ink.
- Verify surface and performance: check the specific page for the surface, finish, water resistance or permanence you need.
- Compare usable volume: consider bottle size, refill yield and cost per usable volume, not just the displayed price.
- Confirm supply: check stock, shipping geography and replacement or refill availability before relying on it for a project.
- Ask for documentation: obtain a safety data sheet and relevant test reports for apparel worn against skin, enclosed spaces, children’s products or other sensitive uses.
- Consider alternatives: conventional carbon-black markers and established screen-printing inks may be easier to source and may offer broader colors or more extensive technical documentation. Refillable conventional markers can also reduce disposable-marker waste without using pollution-derived pigment.
What AIR-INK represents
AIR-INK is best understood as a materials-recovery product built around capturing soot at selected exhaust sources. It turns part of a harmful waste stream into a usable pigment and makes the source of that pigment visible to artists and audiences. Its significance is real, but narrower than the claim that a handful of scientists can purify choking cities: cleaner air still depends most on preventing emissions, while source capture can play a supporting role where it is practical and demonstrably effective.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
