jismart2024066: Experimental Study on the Effect of Plant Wall on Indoor Pollutants

Abstract

Poor indoor air quality can adversely affect human health, particularly due to common pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, and elevated CO₂ concentrations. Traditional physical and chemical methods for mitigating indoor pollutants often lead to increased energy consumption and costs, thus, the pursuit of more sustainable solutions is imperative. In recent years, living wall have garnered significant attention as an effective biophilic technology for enhancing indoor air quality. To explore the effect of plant wall on indoor pollutants. A controlled model experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of plant, soil composition and filtration system on PM10, PM2.5 and CO₂ levels in a living wall installation. Unlike previous studies, we specifically chose Epipremnum aureum as the main plant due to its significant CO₂ uptake during photosynthesis, which effectively reduces indoor CO₂ concentration. In addition, the soil in our experimental design not only acts as a heat retention, but also enhances the capture of particulate matter through an optimized filtration system. The results of the study showed that the living wall exhibited significant cooling (approximately 1.2°C reduction) and humidifying effects (approximately 20.8% increase), whether using painted wood panels or lighting smoke bombs. The leaf structure of the plants played an important role in capturing and adsorbing airborne particulate matter, effectively reducing PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. This study reveals the synergy between plants, filtration systems, and soils that work together to reduce indoor CO₂, PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations through multiple mechanisms, providing a practical solution for improving indoor air quality.