Particulate Matter Removal of Three Woody Plant Species, Ardisia crenata, Ardisia japonica, and Maesa japonica

Kei-Jung Kwon, Hyuk-Joon Kwon, Yun-Ah Oh, Soo-Young Kim and Bong-Ju Park
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Kei-Jung Kwon: Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
Hyuk-Joon Kwon: National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Korea
Yun-Ah Oh: National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Korea
Soo-Young Kim: National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Korea
Bong-Ju Park: Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: In this study, we investigated the physiological responses and particulate matter (PM) abatement and adsorption of three plants: Ardisia crenata , Ardisia japonica , and Maesa japonica , to determine their effectiveness as indoor air purification. When compared to control (without plants), PM was significantly and rapidly decreased by all three plants. The reduction in PM varied by species, with A . crenata being the most effective, followed closely by A . japonica , and finally M . japonica . M . japonica showed the highest rate of photosynthesis and transpiration, generating the greatest decrease in CO 2 and a large increase in relative humidity. We hypothesize that the increased relative humidity in the chamber acted in a manner similar to a chemical flocculant, increasing the weight of PM via combination with airborne water particles and the creation of larger PM aggregates, resulting in a faster sedimentation rate. A . crenata had a stomatal size of ~20 μm or larger, suggesting that the PM reduction observed in this species was the result of direct absorption. In the continuous fine dust exposure experiments, chlorophyll fluorescence values of all three species were in the normal range. In conclusion, all three species were found to be suitable indoor landscaping plants, effective at reducing indoor PM.

Keywords: indoor air purification; indoor landscaping; PM10; PM2.5; PM1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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