Interest in plants that purify indoor air is growing.
The principle of air purification by plants is, first, the removal of pollutants by absorption of leaves and root microorganisms. Pollutants absorbed by leaves are used as photosynthetic metabolites, and those absorbed into the potted soil are removed by microorganisms at the root.
Second, the indoor environment is made comfortable by various plant emission materials such as anions, incense, oxygen, and moisture. Increasing the amount of light on the leaves increases the photosynthesis rate, increasing the removal capacity, and the more frequently indoor pollutants are treated in the pot, the more related microorganisms increase in the root area, which improves the removal capacity.
The six air purifying plants introduced by the Rural Development Administration are Arekaya, Splatifilm, Tilandasia, Coral, Skindapsus, Bengal rubber trees.
The Rural Development Administration tested the effect of removing ultrafine dust on four types of plants known to have air purification effects, and found that coral trees and Bengal rubber trees were helpful.
According to the study, when fine dust was injected into an empty room and measured four hours later, ultrafine dust of less than 2.5μm decreased by 44%, while rooms with coral trees decreased by 70% and rooms with Bengal rubber trees by 67%.
After the experiment, the surface of the leaves of indoor plants was observed with an electron microscope, and it was confirmed that fine dust adhered to the layer of wax that lustrates the leaves or absorbed into the pores on the back of the leaves and disappeared. It is effective in removing ultrafine dust with small particles because the wax layer of leaves becomes sticky due to the increase in production and fine dust sticks and disappears.
Areca palm is a representative air-purifying plant, and it is also known as a "wild palm" because its stems and leaves are yellow. It has an excellent air purification effect enough to be selected as the plant with the best formaldehyde removal ability by NASA. It is more than 1m in size and has an excellent ability to increase negative ions and indoor humidity, so it is good to keep in the living room.
The spotty film is the most representative indoor plant with flowers among air purification plants, and its glossy and fresh green leaves that create a tropical atmosphere are also perfect for ornamental purposes. In addition to fine dust, it has an excellent ability to remove various air pollutants such as alcohol, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde, making it suitable for growing contaminated air in new houses or roadside houses and offices.
Tailandia is an air purification plant with the "best" level of xylene removal and excellent ability to remove fine dust. Since it is excellent in removing the causative substances of new house syndrome such as fine dust and xylene, the effect of relieving new house syndrome is high when placed in the living room. Tailandia is an epiphytic plant that grows in a wooden club and grows in a bright shade. It is also called an 'air plant' because it grows in a tree-like place and survives hanging in the air.
Coral trees are named because red fruits resemble coral in the sea, and their ability to remove fine dust and ultrafine dust is good. According to the connection department of the Rural Development Administration in 2016, when fine dust was injected into empty rooms and measured four hours later, ultrafine dust of less than 2.5μm decreased by 44%, while rooms with coral trees decreased by 70%. The amount of negative ions and humidity is also excellent, so if you leave it in the study room, it will help improve concentration and increase indoor humidity.
Writer: Amy Jeong
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