Response of Marantaceae and Pteridophytes potted plants for purification of formaldehyde polluted air

Abstract

Ten plants from Marantaceae families and ten plants from Pteridophytes were tested for their abilities of removing formaldehyde (FDH) in the air. Each of the plants was placed in a 1.0 ×1.0 × 0.8 m glass box filled with FDH for seven days with the initial concentration as 15 mg m-3. These plants such as Neottopteris nidus cv. Volulum, Calathea lubbersiana showed the most resistant ability to FDH damage; species such as Calathea ornata, Calathea setosa, Calathea freddy, and Calathea roseo-picta showed more resistant ability to FDH damage; species such as N. nidus, Pteris fauriei, Pteris ensiformis cv. Victoriae, Pteris cretica cv. Albolineata, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Cyclosorus parasiticus, Blechnum orientale, Maranta bicolor, and Calathea zebrina showed the worst resistance to FDH. The absorption of FDH by plants in the glass box chamber was found especially apparent during the first three days. The fastest purification of FDH was found in species such as C. zebrina, M. punctatumi¼Œand the slowest was found in species such as C. parasiticus, P. ensiformis cv. Victoriae, N. nidus cv. Volulum, and C. setosa. In conclusion, 8 species of the potted plants which could be recommendable to be used for FDH purification were N. nidus, Calathea rotundifolia, P. cretica cv. Albolineata, C. ornata, P. bifurcatum, N. nidus cv. Volulum, C. roseo-picta, and C. freddy. These plants have high absorption ability to FDH and receive less damage. Key words: Formaldehyde, Marantaceae, potted plants, Pteridophytes, purification.