Zhou, J; Qin, F; Su, J; Liao, JW; Xu, HL
Thirty plant species from Araceae, Agavaceae and Liliaceae families were tested for their abilities of removing formaldehyde in the air. Each plant was placed for seven days in a 1.0 m×1.0 m×0.8 m glass box filled with formaldehyde with the initial concentration as 15 mg m-3. Species such as Aglaonema commutatum cv. White Rajah, Spathiphyllum floribundum cv. Clevelandii, A. commutatum cv. Golden Jewelry, Agave potatorum, Dracaena fragrans cv. Massa-Ngeana, D. reflexa, Cordyline fruticosa, Gasteria gracilis and D. angustifolia showed the most resistance to formaldehyde pollution damage; species such as D. sanderiana, D. deremensis cv. Compacta, Sansevieria trifasciata cv. Hahnii, A. commutatum cv. Silver Queen and Alocasia macrorrhiza showed the second most resistance; species such as S. trifasciata cv. Laurentii, Aloe nobilis, Scindapsus aureus, Dieffenbachia amoena cv. Camilla, A. commutatum cv. Treubii, Scindapsus pictus cv. Argyraeus, Philodendron sodiroi cv. Wendimbe and Syngonium podophyllum showed the third class resistance; species such as Asparagus setaceus, Aloe aristata, Chlorophytum comosum, Philodendron martianum cv. Con-Go, Zamioculcas zamiifolia and A. commutatum cv. Red Narrow showed the resistance to less extents. Philodendron selloum showed the worst resistance to formaldehyde pollution damage. The absorption of formaldehyde by plants in the glass box chamber was found especially apparent during the first three days. In conclusion, ten species of the plants recommendable to be used to apply for formaldehyde purification were Scindapsus aureus, Asparagus setaceus, S. trifasciata cv. Hahnii, C. comosum, A. commutatum cv. White Rajah, A. commutatum cv. Red Narrow, A. commutatum cv. Treubii, S. pictus cv. Argyraeus, G. gracilis and P. sodiroi cv. Wendimbe. These ten plants have high absorption ability to formaldehyde and receive less damage.