The influence of plant density on the removal efficiency of volatile organic compounds in indoor air using a biological filter

• Autores: C. Liddy, A. Darlington, M. A. Dixon
• Localización: Biotechniques for air pollution control: proceedings of the international congress Biotechniques for Air Pollution Control : A Coruña, Spain, October 5-7, 2005 / Christian Kennes (dir. congr.), María C. Veiga (dir. congr.), 2005, ISBN 84-9749-163-7, págs. 405-410
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • A major health issue in indoor environments is the accumulation of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Biofiltration has been proposed to remediate VOC contaminated indoor air. The operational parameters of a novel biofilter which integrates green plants into the system was tested. Biofilters were challenged with Methylethylketone (MEK). The density of plants in a biofilter had a significant effect on the removal efficiency of MEK. Under the low mineral nutrient conditions, there was a positive relationship between plant density and MEK removal efficiency when plant density was less than 5 plants per 15m2 of filter media. A negative relationship between removal efficiency and plant density existed when plant density was greater than 5 plants per 15m2. Because higher plant densities were not associated with improved performance, negative plant-microbes interactions could have occurred. After mineral nutrient content of the circulating solution was increased, there was a positive relationship between removal efficiencies and plant density suggesting positive plant microbe interactions could have occurred. The amount of nutrient incorporated by the plants and microbes in the system has no relationship with the removal efficiency. The final root and shoot mass had a positive relationship with removal efficiency of MEK.