Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds by Means of a Felt-Based Living Wall Using Different Plant Species

Gina Patricia Suárez-Cáceres and Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu
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Gina Patricia Suárez-Cáceres: Urban Greening and Biosystems Engineering Research Group, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu: Urban Greening and Biosystems Engineering Research Group, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: Poor indoor quality affects people’s health and well-being. Phytoremediation is one way in which this problem can be tackled, with living walls being a viable option for places with limited space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of five plant species in a living wall to remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and to identify whether the type of pollutant has any influence. An enclosed chamber was used to add the contaminants n-hexane and formaldehyde independently. Total VOCs were measured for three days in two scenarios: (1) empty chamber, and (2) chamber with living wall. Five living walls were prepared, each with three plants of the same species: Spathiphyllum wallisii , Philodendron hederaceum , Ficus pumila , Tradescantia pallida, and Chlorophytum comosum . There was no correlation between leaf area/fresh weight/dry weight and the contaminant reduction. In general, all five species were more efficient in reducing TVOCs when exposed to formaldehyde than to n-hexane. Chlorophytum comosum was the most efficient species in reducing the concentration of TVOCs for both contaminants, Spathiphyllum wallisii being the least efficient by far.

Keywords: green wall; indoor air quality; TVOCs; Spathiphyllum wallisii; Philodendron hederaceum; Ficus pumila; Tradescantia pallida; Chlorophytum comosum (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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