Effectiveness of Indoor Plant to Reduce CO₂ in Indoor Environment

¹ Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
² Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UTHM, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
³ Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: mohd_mahathir@rocketmail.com

Abstract

Modern country strongly emphasizes on indoor air quality (IAQ) because it can effect on human health and productivity. Numerous efforts were performed to make sure that sustainability of IAQ is guaranteed. In the last 4^th decade, researchers discover that indoor plants have abilities to reduce indoor air pollution. Generally, plants, carbon dioxide (CO₂), light, and temperature involve in the photosynthesis process. This paper intends to study the effectiveness of seven indoor plants (Anthurium, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Kadaka Fern, Prayer Plant, Spider Plant, and Syngonium) to reduce CO₂ with different light level. This study was conducted in one cubic meter of chamber, and each plant was put into the chamber individually with CO₂ concentration in the chamber is set at 1000±50ppm, and light intensities is set at 300 and 700 lux, while temperature were fixed at 25±1°C. Based on the results, only the Spider Plant was not able to absorb CO₂ during the test at 300 lux of light intensity. Meanwhile, Prayer Plant performed well when tested at 300 or 700 lux of light intensity compare to other investigates plants. This study can conclude that light intensity play an important role for the plant to absorb CO2 effectively. All the indoor plants absorbed more CO₂, when the light intensity is increased.