A review of different phytoremediation methods and critical factors for purification of common indoor air pollutants: an approach with sensitive analysis

Abstract

In recent decades, indoor air pollution has become a major concern due to its adverse health effects on the inhabitants. The presence of fine particles (PM2.5) and hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde and benzene, in indoor air and their proven carcinogenic effects, has raised the attention of health authorities. Their very difficult and expensive removal by chemical and mechanical methods has led researchers to seek an economical and environmentally friendly technique. The use of plants in different ways such as potted plants or green walls is considered as a potential green solution for the improvement of indoor air quality and the health level of its inhabitants. A review of the literature cited in this paper suggests that plants absorb some of the pollutants, such as particles directly and remove some pollutants such as VOCs indirectly through biological transfer or by using microorganisms. This review paper discusses the types of plants that have been used for the phytoremediation of airborne pollutants and the routes and mechanisms for removing the pollutants. Removal pathways of the pollutants by aerial parts of the plants, the growth media along with the roots and their microorganisms in the rhizosphere part were also discussed. Sensitive analysis of extracted data from the literature outlined the most useful types of plants and the appropriate substrate for phytoremediation. Also, it showed that factors affecting the removal efficiency such as light intensity and ambient temperature, behave differently depending on pollutants and plants types. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.