Abstract:
Objective To understand the absorption of formaldehyde by different plants at different temperatures, and provide a basis for the selection of plants suitable for indoor purification of formaldehyde in Hainan.
Methods Five common indoor ornamental plants were selected in this study. At the temperatures of below 20℃, 20-25℃, and above 25℃, the absorption effects of formaldehyde by different plants were detected in sealed cabinets.
Results (1) Comparisons among different plants at the same temperature:compared with the blank group, at the temperatures of below 20℃, 20-25℃, and above 25℃, the plant absorption effects of formaldehyde were statistically different (P < 0.05). The reductions of formaldehyde in the air within 12 h at the three temperature categories by mint were 4.34, 3.71, and 5.57 mg/m3, respectively; the reductions by Chlorophytum comosum were 3.59, 3.74, and 5.54 mg/m3, respectively; the reductions by Epipremnum aureum were 3.87, 3.81, and 5.39 mg/m3, respectively; the reductions by Dracaena sanderiana were 3.56, 3.54, and 5.31 mg/m3, respectively; the reductions by Murraya exotica were 3.81 and 5.23 mg/m3 at 20-25℃ and above 25℃, respectively. Below 20℃, the formaldehyde purification effects from high to low were mint > Eipremnum aureum > Chlorophytum comosum > Dracaena sanderiana; at 20-25℃, the effects were Murraya exotica=Epipremnum aureum > Chlorophytum comosum > mint > Dracaena sanderiana; above 25℃, the effects were mint > Chlorophytum comosum > Epipremnum aureum > Dracaena sanderiana > Murraya exotica. (2) Comparisons of the same plant at different temperatures:except Dracaena sanderiana, the rest four plants absorbed different levels of formaldehyde at different temperatures (P < 0.05), and the absorption was optimal above 25℃. (3) Comparisons of the same plant at different time:all plants showed certain absorption of formaldehyde, and the effects faded over time.
Conclusion The selected plants show varied absorption abilities of formaldehyde, and temperature alters their absorption abilities. High absorption levels by Epipremnum aureum and Chlorophytum comosum are obsesrved at all temperatures, the absorption by mint is better at below 20℃ and above 25℃, but the absorption by Dracaena sanderiana is not obviously different among the three studied temperature ranges.