Effectiveness of the genus Riccia (Marchantiophyta: Ricciaceae) as a biofilter for particulate matter adsorption from air pollution

The study of plants as a biofilter is highly relevant in the field of air pollution science to ecological restoration in urban, which is connected to the ecosystem and human health. The aim of this present study was designed to evaluate the use of Riccia as a biofilter for particulate matter. The treatment box was designed using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model. The alignment of the biofilter plant was designed and performed in three different arrangements blocking, zigzag, and parallel panels. The particulate matter was generated by simulated B7 diesel fuel combustion smoke using a smoke generator and loaded into the chamber with air velocities of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m/s via a Laser dust sensor for both inlet and outlet air. The adsorption efficiency of the PM adsorbed on the biofilter plant was calculated. The physical properties, physiological, and biochemical parameters of the study plant such as Air pollution tolerance index (APTI), Dust capturing potential were investigated. Moreover, the micromorphological details of the plant, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and adsorbed metal were analyzed. The study revealed adsorption efficiency was in the range of 2.3%–49.6 %. The highest efficiency values for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 were 31.4, 40.1, and 49.6, respectively, which belonged to the horizontal panel with a velocity of 2.0 m/s. The alignment of the panel and air velocities affects the efficiency. HS-GC-MS revealed that Riccia can be adsorbed the particulate matter and the quantity of Cd, Pb, and Na were 0.0044 ± 0.0069 mg/gDW, 0.0208 ± 0.0278 mg/gDW, and 0.9395 ± 0.1009 mg/gDW, respectively. The morphological study exhibited a rough surface to enhance the efficiency of the trapped particle matter. The results showed that Riccia was suitable for adsorbing the particulate matter with a diameter of 1–4 μm.