Effect of airflow pattern and distance on removal of particulate matters and volatile organic compounds from cigarette smoke using Sansevieria trifasciata botanical biofilter

Journal article

Authors/Editors

CHAIRAT TREESUBSUNTORN

Strategic Research Themes

Innovative Environment (Future Learning)

Publication Details

Author list: Permana, Bayu Had; Thiravetyan, Paitip; Treesubsuntorn, Chairat;

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication year: 2022

Journal: Chemosphere (0045-6535)

Volume number: 295

Start page: 133919

ISSN: 0045-6535

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85124303363&doi=10.1016%2fj.chemosphere.2022.133919&partnerID=40&md5=02868cdb85acd08892b8f1662b4fcd5d

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

Botanical biofilters can effectively remove indoor air pollution. However, to apply botanical biofilters in situ, the distance of botanical biofilter to the pollutants and airflow pattern can be important factors impacting efficiency. This study examined the removal efficiency of particulate matters (PMs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cigarette smoke, such as formaldehyde and acetone, at various distances (100 cm, 175 cm, 240 cm, and 315 cm) using a Sansevieria trifasciata botanical biofilter. The botanical biofilter was placed inside a testing room (24 m3) and exposed to cigarette smoke. The pollutants removal efficiency was evaluated for six cycles (24 h/cycle) and one cycle as a recovery period where botanical biofilter was placed under normal conditions for 30 days. Results showed that the botanical biofilter could remove 140–250 μg m−3, 147–257 μg m−3, 212–455 μg m−3 for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively, at 8 h. Total VOCs, formaldehyde, and acetone removal were 40%–65%, 46%–69%, and 31%–61% at 24 h. PMs and VOCs removal efficiency can be affected by both distance and pattern of airflow in the testing room. The highest PM1 and PM2.5 elimination appeared at 240 cm and 315 cm, while VOCs removal was high at 100 cm. Botanical biofilter creates airflow vortices around 100 cm, indicating low removal of PMs. This is the first study that demonstrated the effect of airflow patterns on different pollutants removal efficiency. © 2022

Keywords

Particulate matters (PMs)