The Ability of Selected Plants to Absorbing CO₂, CO and HC from Gasoline Engine Exhaust

Abstract

Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in the earth’s average surface temperature, which has an impact on climate change. The cause of global warming is the inhibition of heat transfer from the earth’s surface to space, which is analogous to the greenhouse effect. The occurrence of the greenhouse effect is due to the large amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced by the complete combustion of fuel in vehicles and industrial processes. The rising use of fossil fuels and the ongoing reduction in forest plants’ ability to absorb CO₂ is to blame for the rise in CO₂ levels in the atmosphere. To reduce the increase in CO₂ gas, one effort that can be made is to increase CO₂-absorbing plants. In this regard, plants are able to absorb CO₂ and convert it into oxygen and glucose by utilizing solar heat. The purpose of this study is to determine the ability to absorb CO₂ from several types of plants. The test was carried out using two closed test rooms with dimensions of 100×50×50 cm, where room 1 (first) was used to store 0.5% of CO₂ emissions, while room 2 (second) was used for the plants being tested. Gas is flowed into room 2 using a fan for 300 minutes, and data collection is carried out every 60 minutes. Based on results obtained in this line of research, the best plant ability to absorb CO₂ can be ordered as follows 0.25 mg/m².hour for squirrel tail, 0.243 mg/m².hour for trembesi, 0.2 mg/m².hour for mahogany, 0.177 mg/m².hour for kaffir lime, 0.166 mg/m².hour for mango, and 0.166 mg/m².hour for cape.