Uptake of aldehydes and ketones at typical indoor concentrations by houseplants.
The uptake rates of low-molecular weight aldehydes and ketones by peace lily (Spathiphyllum clevelandii) and golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) leaves at typical indoor ambient concentrations (10(1)-10(2) ppbv) were determined. The C3-C6 aldehydes and C4-C6 ketones were taken up by the plant leaves, but the C3 ketone acetone was not. The uptake rate normalized to the ambient concentration C(a) ranged from 7 to 19 mmol m(-2) s(-1) and from 2 to 7 mmol m(-2) s(-1) for the aldehydes and ketones, respectively. Longer-term fumigation results revealed that the total uptake amounts were 30-100 times as much as the amounts dissolved in the leaf, suggesting that volatile organic carbons are metabolized in the leaf and/or translocated through the petiole. The ratio of the intercellular concentration to the external (ambient) concentration (C(i)/C(a)) was significantly lower for most aldehydes than for most ketones. In particular, a linear unsaturated aldehyde, crotonaldehyde, had a C(i)/C(a) ratio of approximately 0, probably because of its highest solubility in water.
Tani
Akira
A
Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan. atani@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp
Hewitt
C Nicholas
CN
D000096:Acetone / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D007659:Ketones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013227:Steam / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D000447:Aldehydes; D007659:Ketones; D013227:Steam; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000096:Acetone