Peace lily-mediated biofiltration of indoor ammonia and VOCs at elevated concentrations.

This study explores the phytoremediation potential of indoor plants under extreme air pollution conditions, employing a custom-built wireless sensor system based on the ESP32 microcontroller and integrated with the Blynk mobile platform for real-time monitoring. A sealed glass chamber was used to simulate a confined indoor environment with high concentrations (2500 ppm and 3500 ppm) of airborne pollutants - namely ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene - far exceeding typical exposure levels in existing phytoremediation studies. The peace lily, selected for its established air-purifying properties, demonstrated the highest remediation efficacy against ammonia, with reductions of 51.3% and 64% at 2500 ppm and 3500 ppm, respectively. These reductions were accompanied by increased transpiration rates of 48% and 38%, indicating active physiological responses. Experimental results suggest pollutant-specific detoxification pathways, with ammonia predominantly processed via the glutamine synthetase pathway and other volatile organic compounds through oxidative and conjugative mechanisms. This study highlights the potential of peace lily as a resilient botanical candidate for improving air quality in highly polluted indoor environments and underscores the value of integrating smart monitoring technologies with plant-based air purification strategies.