Research of gas exchange and air purification processes by plants of the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare L.) species

Abstract

Growing urbanization creates air pollution problems, which is becoming dangerous for human health and unsuitable for indoor ventilation. An effective solution is the combination of green structures with engineering systems, which requires the development of new methods and quantitative laboratory studies of gas and mass exchange processes of plants. The purpose of the study was to quantify the ability of plants of the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare L.) to release and absorb oxygen and СО2, as well as to study the effectiveness of air purification from particulate matter in order to properly take into account the impact of plants in the process of their selection for greening urban landscapes. The research was carried out according to the methodology developed by the authors in a gas exchange chamber, which was upgraded to model external conditions and study plants with small leaf area and developed stems. The results of the experiment showed that Ligustrum vulgare L. bushes with a small total photosynthetic leaf surface area are inefficient for carbon dioxide absorption in an urbanized environment, so plants with a significant proportion of photosynthetically active biomass and fast-growing plants should be preferred. It was determined that at maximum illumination, the degree of absorption of PM2.5 and PM10 by Ligustrum vulgare L. bushes was 8.84‧10-5...1.5‧10-4 μg/s, which confirms the effective absorption of particulate matter with a diameter of up to 2.5 and up to 10 μm from the air by the studied plants. The results obtained indicate an increase in the concentration of total volatile organic compounds in the outlet compartment, which indicates the active release of volatile phyto-organic substances by plants in the amount of 2.442...2.973 μg/s. The results of the study can be used for effective taxonomic selection of woody plants during the design and creation of urban green spaces that are resistant to the conditions of the urban environment