Phytoremediation of BTEX from Indoor Air by Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Phytoremediation of BTEX by Plants

“…The result showed that benzene removal under light conditions was more effective than under dark conditions (Fig. 20.6 ) (Treesubsuntorn and Thiravetyan 2012 ;Sriprapat and Thiravetyan 2013 ). Light and dark conditions might be related to photosynthesis rate, and from gaseous BTEX uptake by plant, stomata were considered as the main structure to uptake these compounds, so the closing and opening of stomata could also affect benzene uptake.…”

“…Passive diffusion was considered the BTEX intracellular translocation mechanism because small hydrophobic properties were found in these molecules ). In addition, we have recently found that the physicochemical properties of each BTEX might affect its removal ability (Sriprapat and Thiravetyan 2013 ). At the same initial concentration of each BTEX under the control of temperature and pressure experiments showed that the difference in the fl ux of each BTEX is closely related with the diffusion coeffi cient of each BTEX.…”

“…The BTEX removal effi ciency by well-watered plants was involved with day stomata opening and night closing, while the BTEX removal effi ciency by a water-stressed plant can occur both day and night at a slightly lower rate than wellwatered plants (Fig. 20.8 ) (Sriprapat and Thiravetyan 2013 ).…”

“…It is possible to calculate how much leaf area is needed to achieve the maximum of VOC removal ability (Wood et al 2006 ;Sriprapat and Thiravetyan 2013 ).…”

Analysis of Indoor Air Pollution of Decoration and Control Measures

“…Some researches [11], [12] indicate the plants posses unique advantage in purifying air. For instances, the ivy could eliminate about 90% of benzene; the bracts of rhizoma arisaematis could eliminate 80% of benzene and 50% of trichloro ethylene; the Chlorophytum comosum could decontaminate about 96% of carbon monoxide, 86% of formaldehyde and nitrogen peroxide [13]; the zamioculcas zamiifolia rehd could absorb 88% of dimethyl benzene just within 72hours [14], [15], and it is also effect in absorption of benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene indoors [16]; the plants of Sansevieria trifasciata and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana could decontaminate 77% of toluene witin 72hours; all Chlorophytum comosum as well as Sansevieria hyacinthoides and Aglaonema commutatum could eliminate 70% of ethylbenzene [ 16 ]; in addition to these, the monstera, cactus and aloe also possess function of air purification.…”