Uptake of toluene and ethylbenzene by plants: removal of volatile indoor air contaminants.

Uptake of toluene and ethylbenzene by plants: removal of volatile indoor air contaminants.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (2014-02-18)

Wararat Sriprapat, Parinda Suksabye, Sirintip Areephak, Polawat Klantup, Atcharaphan Waraha, Anuchit Sawattan, Paitip Thiravetyan

PMID24530730

ABSTRACT

Air borne uptake of toluene and ethylbenzene by twelve plant species was examined. Of the twelve plant species examined, the highest toluene removal was found in Sansevieria trifasciata, while the ethylbenzene removal from air was with Chlorophytum comosum. Toluene and ethylbenzene can penetrate the plant׳s cuticle. However, the removal rates do not appear to be correlated with numbers of stomata per plant. It was found that wax of S. trifasciata and Sansevieria hyacinthoides had greater absorption of toluene and ethylbenzene, and it contained high hexadecanoic acid. Hexadecanoic acid might be involved in toluene and ethylbenzene adsorption by cuticles wax of plants. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis or the potential quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) in toluene exposed plants showed no significant differences between the control and the treated plants, whereas plants exposed to ethylbenzene showed significant differences or those parameters, specifically in Dracaena deremensis (Lemon lime), Dracaena sanderiana, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and Cordyline fruticosa. The Fv/Fm ratio can give insight into the ability of plants to tolerate (indoor) air pollution by volatile organic chemicals (VOC). This index can be used for identification of suitable plants for treating/sequestering VOCs in contaminated air.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

179965

Sigma-Aldrich

Toluene, Laboratory Reagent, ≥99.3%

179418

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Toluene, ACS reagent, ≥99.5%

244511

Sigma-Aldrich

Toluene, anhydrous, 99.8%

40036

Supelco

Ethylbenzene solution, certified reference material, 5000 μg/mL in methanol

650579

Sigma-Aldrich

Toluene, HPLC Plus, for HPLC, GC, and residue analysis, ≥99.9%

34866

Sigma-Aldrich

Toluene, suitable for HPLC, 99.9%

714917

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Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 0.1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 0.01 %, NMR tube size 5 mm × 8 in. , ultra-thin wall

487120

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 0.1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 0.01 %, NMR tube size 8 mm × 8 in.

551341

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 5% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 2 %, NMR tube size 5 mm × 8 in.

487104

Supelco

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 0.1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 0.01 %, NMR tube size 5 mm × 8 in.

612480

Supelco

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 0.1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), chromium(III) acetylacetonate 0.1 mg/mL, TMS 0.01 %, NMR tube size 5 mm × 8 in.

612065

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 0.1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 0.01 %, NMR tube size 10 mm × 8 in.

89680

Supelco

Toluene, analytical standard

PHR1311

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PHR1317

Supelco

Residual Solvent - Toluene, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material

30-3280

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Toluene, JIS special grade, ≥99.5%

736198

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Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 10% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), NMR tube size 5 mm × 8 in. , ultra-thin wall

710725

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 5% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 1 %, NMR tube size 5 mm × 7 in.

717959

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D)

733768

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 10% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), NMR tube size 10 mm × 8 in.

708054

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708046

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 10% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D)

717967

Sigma-Aldrich

Ethylbenzene solution, NMR reference standard, 0.1% in chloroform-d (99.8 atom % D), TMS 0.1 %

296848

Sigma-Aldrich

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03079

Supelco

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CRM48620

Supelco

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40084

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E12508

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PHR1229

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