Do the plants in functional green walls contribute to their ability to filter particulate matter?

Pettit, T; Irga, PJ; Abdo, P; Torpy, FR

Do the plants in functional green walls contribute to their ability to filter particulate matter?

Pettit, T Irga, PJ

Abdo, P

Torpy, FR

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Building and Environment, 2017, 125 pp. 299 - 307
Issue Date:: 2017-11-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Pettit, T	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Irga, PJ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5952-0658	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Abdo, P https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9650-2141	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Torpy, FR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9137-6948	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:09:58Z
dc.date.issued	2017-11-15	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Building and Environment, 2017, 125 pp. 299 - 307	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0360-1323	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117856
dc.description.abstract	© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Indoor air quality has become a growing concern as people are spending more time indoors, combined with the construction of highly sealed buildings that promote thermal efficiency. Particulate matter (PM) is a common indoor air pollutant, with exposure to high concentrations associated with several detrimental health outcomes. Active botanical biofilters or functional green walls are becoming increasingly efficient and have the potential to mitigate high suspended PM concentrations. These systems, however, require further development before they become competitive with industry standard in-room air filters. Whilst the plant growth substrate in active biofilters can act as a filter medium, it was previously not known whether the plant component of these systems played a function in PM filtration. This study thus examines the influence of the botanical component on active green wall PM single pass removal efficiency (SPRE), with a focus on evaluating the air filtration features of different plant species in green wall modules. All tested botanical biofilters outperformed biofilters that consisted only of substrate. Green walls using different plant species had different single pass removal efficiencies, with fern species recording the highest removal efficiencies across all measured particle sizes (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis SPRE for PM0.3-0.5 and PM5-10 = 45.78% and 92.46% respectively). Higher removal efficiencies were associated with increased pressure drop across the biofilter. An assessment of plant morphological data suggested that the root structure of the plants strongly influenced removal efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential to enhance active botanical biofiltration technology with appropriate plant species selection.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Building and Environment	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.09.004	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction	en_US
dc.title	Do the plants in functional green walls contribute to their ability to filter particulate matter?	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	125	en_US
utslib.for	1201 Architecture	en_US
utslib.for	1202 Building	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	125	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Indoor air quality has become a growing concern as people are spending more time indoors, combined with the construction of highly sealed buildings that promote thermal efficiency. Particulate matter (PM) is a common indoor air pollutant, with exposure to high concentrations associated with several detrimental health outcomes. Active botanical biofilters or functional green walls are becoming increasingly efficient and have the potential to mitigate high suspended PM concentrations. These systems, however, require further development before they become competitive with industry standard in-room air filters. Whilst the plant growth substrate in active biofilters can act as a filter medium, it was previously not known whether the plant component of these systems played a function in PM filtration. This study thus examines the influence of the botanical component on active green wall PM single pass removal efficiency (SPRE), with a focus on evaluating the air filtration features of different plant species in green wall modules. All tested botanical biofilters outperformed biofilters that consisted only of substrate. Green walls using different plant species had different single pass removal efficiencies, with fern species recording the highest removal efficiencies across all measured particle sizes (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis SPRE for PM0.3-0.5 and PM5-10 = 45.78% and 92.46% respectively). Higher removal efficiencies were associated with increased pressure drop across the biofilter. An assessment of plant morphological data suggested that the root structure of the plants strongly influenced removal efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential to enhance active botanical biofiltration technology with appropriate plant species selection.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117856