Assisted Deposition of PM 2.5 from Indoor Air by Ornamental Potted Plants

This study clarifies whether vegetation can promote the decrease of indoor PM 2.5 concentration. The indoor PM 2.5 concentration in two periods of 2013 in Wuhan city was simulated by cigarette burning in a series of sealed chambers. Six common indoor potted plants were selected as samples to investigate the effect of plants on PM 2.5 decline. The effects of potted plants on PM 2.5 decline were analyzed from three aspects: plant species, leaf characteristics and relative humidity. The results show that the presence of potted plants accelerated the decline of PM 2.5 . The additional removal rates (excluding gravity sedimentation of PM 2.5 itself) for Aloe vera and Epipremnum aureum were 5.2% and 30% respectively, when the initial PM 2.5 concentration was around 200 μg/m 3 . The corresponding values were 0% and 17.2%, respectively, when the initial PM 2.5 was around 300 μg/m 3 . Epipremnum aureum was the optimum potted plant for PM 2.5 sedimentation, due to its rough and groove leaf surface, highest LAI (leaf area index, 2.27), and strong humidifying capacity (i.e., can promote chamber humidity to 65% in 30–60 minutes.). Actual indoor studies have also confirmed that a certain amount of Epipremnum aureum can promote the decrease of indoor PM 2.5 . This paper provides insights on reducing the concentration of fine particulate matter by indoor greening efforts.