Synergistic Green Technologies for Sustainable Indoor Air Quality Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38032/scse.2026.4.245Keywords:
Indoor air quality (IAQ), Liquid desiccant, Solar energy, Hybrid filtration, Phytoremediation, sustainable technology, VOC removalAbstract
Indoor air pollution (IAP) poses a significant global health burden, particularly in developing nations. This paper presents a novel, sustainable framework for managing indoor air quality (IAQ) by synergistically integrating solar-powered liquid desiccant air filtration with active phytoremediation. Conventional technologies are often energy-intensive and produce waste, while natural solutions like phytoremediation have limitations in efficacy and speed. The proposed system utilizes a triethylene glycol (TEG) solution in a counter-flow tray contactor for simultaneous dehumidification and removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM), powered entirely by photovoltaic cells. Furthermore, the system is augmented with a selection of indoor plants known for their high efficacy in removing specific pollutants, creating a bio-regenerative buffer zone. A detailed technical methodology for sizing the system components, including the contactor, regenerator, and solar array, is provided. Analysis indicates the potential for the system to remove over 90% of toluene and 80% of PM 2.5, while selected plants can reduce residual formaldehyde and benzene levels by up to 80% within 12 hours. This synergistic approach not only aligns technological innovation with natural processes to promote human health and environmental sustainability but also demonstrates significant economic viability through drastically reduced operational costs compared to conventional, grid-dependent systems. Furthermore, the framework's adaptability is enhanced by a proposed Model Predictive Control (MPC) system, offering a path for dynamic, autonomous operation based on real-time IoT feedback.
Downloads
Downloads
Downloads
References
[1]. J. D. Spengler and K. Sexton, "Indoor air pollution: a public health perspective," Science, vol. 221, no. 4605, pp. 9–17, 1983. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6857273
[2]. "Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq
[3]. C. J. Weschler, "Changes in indoor pollutants since the 1950s," Atmospheric Environment, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 153–169, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.09.044
[4]. "Household air pollution and health," World Health Organization, Sep. 2022.
[5]. H. X. Fu and X. H. Liu, "Review of the impact of liquid desiccant dehumidification on indoor air quality," Building and Environment, vol. 116, pp. 158–172, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.02.014
[6]. M. R. H. Abdel-Salam et al., "Expected energy and economic benefits, and environmental impacts for liquid-to-air membrane energy exchangers (LAMEEs) in HVAC systems: A review," Applied Energy, vol. 127, pp. 202–218, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.004
[7]. K. F. Fong, C. K. Lee, Z. Lin, T. T. Chow, and L. S. Chan, "Application potential of solar air-conditioning systems for displacement ventilation," Energy and Buildings, vol. 43, no. 9, pp. 2068–2076, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.04.010
[8]. A. Han & J. Ruan, “Effects of indoor plants on well-being: A systematic review,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, no. 3, 2023.
[9]. R. L. Orwell et al., "Removal of benzene by the indoor plant/substrate microcosm and implications for air quality," Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, vol. 157, no. 1, pp. 193–207, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WATE.0000038896.55713.5b
[10]. X. Zhang, Y. Li, “Advances in triethylene glycol liquid desiccant systems for indoor air quality enhancement,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 258, 2022.
[11]. P. Gandhidasan and M. A. Mohandes, "Predictions of vapor pressures of aqueous desiccants for cooling applications by using artificial neural networks," Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 28, no. 2-3, pp. 126–135, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2007.03.034
[12]. "Air - Maximum Moisture Carrying Capacity," The Engineering ToolBox. [Online]. Available: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/maximum-moisture-content-air-d_1403.html
[13]. M. Khan et al., “Dehumidification and VOC removal using TEG-based liquid desiccant: Experimental study,” Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 187, 2021.
[14]. H. Tuo, "Thermal-economic analysis of a transcritical Rankine power cycle with reheat enhancement for a low-grade heat source," International Journal of Energy Research, vol. 37, no. 8, pp. 857–867, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/er.2886
[15]. A. Aydogan and R. Cerone, "Review of the effects of plants on indoor environments," Indoor and Built Environment, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 442–460, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X19900213
[16]. J. Saini, M. Dutta, G. Marques, “Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems Based on Internet of Things: A Systematic Review,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 18, no. 5, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08781-6
[17]. Y. Wang, “Improving indoor air quality and occupant health through active control: A review and framework for smart building applications,” Building and Environment, vol. 223, 2022.
Published
Conference Proceedings Volume
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Md. Louckman Hossain , Md. Masumul Haque , Md. Sumon Munshi , Md. Mehedi Hasan (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All the articles published by this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
How to Cite
