Viability of Myrtle tree as natural filter for the gaseous emissions of internal combustion engines

Salam Bash Almaliky

doi:10.5539/mas.v5n2p37

Abstract

This paper was aimed to test the control role of myrtle tree against the gaseous emissions of stationary internal combustion engines (ICEs). CO and NO2 gaseous emissions, chlorophyll content index (CCI) and leaf surface area were studied prior and after the expose of myrtle tree the exhaust of 2 KW gasoline fueled, power generator that was operated four hours per day for a period of 24 consecutive weeks. Myrtle have shown efficient performance in reducing the amounts of these emissions, where records of CO and NO2 have shown reductions to about 18% and 27% of their initial levels as emitted from the source, respectively. Although it was not encouraging at the first few weeks, the CCI has shown significant development of 38% as compared to its initial value, which was incorporated with about 77% increase in average leaf`s surface area. Statistical analyses have proved good positive correlations between CO and NO2 removal process from one side and the CCI and leaf surface area from the other. Atmospheric temperature was proved to have high negative correlation coefficient with both CCI and leaf surface area. These results encourage further biological and statistical tests to prove and determine the causal relations between these variables. Author would like to acknowledge the support of the Institute of International Education IIE, Scholars Rescue Fund SRF and Russ College of Engineering, Ohio University.

Highlights

Utilization of stationary internal combustion engines (ICE) has diverse forms ranging from power generation to irrigation, and depending on the application, sizes of ICE range from relatively small; 1 Kilowatt for agricultural irrigation purposes to hundreds Kilowatts for power generation
First indication regarding the gaseous emissions was that both carbon monoxide (CO) and NO2 were increased by time due to the accumulation of gasoline burning wastes in the burning chamber and the exhaust pipes
As shown in fig.1, the chlorophyll content index (CCI) was significantly increasing with time until it reached the range of 17-18 by the tenth week, which accounts for about 38% increase in CCI as compared with the initial value, after that, no significant changes have been recorded

Summary

Introduction

Utilization of stationary internal combustion engines (ICE) has diverse forms ranging from power generation to irrigation, and depending on the application, sizes of ICE range from relatively small; 1 Kilowatt for agricultural irrigation purposes to hundreds Kilowatts for power generation. The major health and wellbeing benefits of interior plants include; cleaning pollutants out of the air / absorption of harmful substances, filtration of dust and dirt from the environment, producing oxygen and add humidity to the indoor environment, dampening of sound levels, cooling effect, counteracting the common sick building disease, enhancing the beauty of our homes and offices, and last, but not least, the very presence of plants has been shown to increase positive feelings and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, anger and sadness. The functional role of isoprenoids could be to quench reactive oxygen species formed under virtually all stressful conditions From another side Myrtle and Viburnum tinus were found tolerant and no symptoms were observed on any of the plants following 35 days of exposure to 30 ppb ozone (Orendovici, Skelly, Ferdinand, Savage, Sanz, and Smith, 2003)

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