Removal of volatile organic compounds (toluene and ethanol) from indoor air using ficus elastica roxb. plants obtained by micropropagation method in a botanical air filtration system

The adverse effects of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on human health have been demonstrated by research. VOCs present in indoor air can cause serious health problems if not removed. Various methods are used to remove these compounds. One of these is botanical biofiltration systems. These systems deserve attention due to their sustainability, non-toxicity, low cost, environmental friendliness, and efficiency. This thesis study examined the optimization of the removal efficiency of toluene and ethanol VOCs in a botanical air filtration system created with Ficus elastica plants using the variables of VOC concentration, relative humidity, and time. Experiments were also conducted with micropropagated plants under optimal conditions. Additionally, this study investigated desorption concentrations that may occur after the removal process and changes in the plants caused by VOC exposure throughout the entire process. According to the RSM optimization results, it was observed that VOC removal efficiency of over 90% could be achieved for toluene and ethanol compounds using F. elastica. Under optimal conditions, the maximum removal efficiency was found to be 92.01% for toluene and 97.16% for ethanol. In tests conducted with micropropagated new plants, an increase in removal efficiency was observed as the number of tests increased, proportional to the frequency of VOC exposure. It was observed that prolonged exposure caused an increase in antioxidant compounds, which are stress responses in plants, a decrease in chlorophyll content, and tissue damage in stomatal structures. In conclusion, it was observed that VOCs can be removed at high efficiencies using botanical filtration systems, and that this efficiency can be further improved through optimization studies. Botanical filtration plays a significant role in the development of economical, efficient, and sustainable systems for removing components that threaten human health in indoor air.