Paper Title
Removal of Formaldehyde by Some Air Plant Species in Epiphytic Tillandsia (Bromiliaceae)

Abstract
Air plants have an important role in the removal of air borne contaminants. In this study, epiphytic Tillandsia (Bromiliaceae) species have been applied in formaldehyde (FA) removal from the air environment .The removal rate of five plant species were tested in a glass chamber attached with real time indoor air quality (IAQ) gas sensor probe. The absorptive capacity of Tillandsiatrichomes were investigated and viewed by Scanning Electron Microscope. The removal formaldehyde efficiencies of high trichromesTillandsia species: flexuosa, T., capita, T. brachycaulos, T., �cotton candy� (T. stricta� T. recuvifolia) with intact trichomes, were found less than in T. bulbosa leaf with less trichrome. All plants exposed to FA had a reduction in measured leaf chlorophyll with ranged from 14 to 35 %. In addition, plants in which trichomes had been removed increased the rate of FA removal more than plants with intact trichomes. This result indicated Tillandsia leaf trichomes protect the leaves from this toxin. Our finding demonstrated the application of air plant in the contribution of clean air environment which could be developed to plant-based remediation system for other toxic gases. Keywords- formaldehyde,phytoremediation,air plant,epiphytic Tillandsia (Bromiliaceae),trichomes