New Delhi: Can clusters of indoor plants do what expensive air purifiers claim to? Researchers at Delhi University’s Miranda House are attempting to answer that by developing a plant-based air purification prototype — inspired by the NASA Clean Air Study — that aims to offer a low-cost alternative for indoor spaces.The NASA study showed that certain indoor plants, such as snake plant, areca palm, money plant and spider plant, can absorb pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide in controlled environments.Building on this, a team of professors and undergraduate students at Miranda House is working to test the idea in real-world settings under a project titled Mirakle headed by principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda.Led by the college’s chemistry and botany departments, the project focuses on developing an environment-specific applied model suited to Indian conditions. The initiative is being funded by the college.“The prototype that we are trying to create will be tailored to specific environments. Some areas have higher pollution than others due to surrounding conditions — for instance, places near factories. Based on that, we will build combinations of plants that can be used for different kinds of rooms, sizes and indoor conditions,” said project coordinator, Professor Mallika Pathak.At the core of the study is the idea of developing “plant clusters” — carefully selected groups of indoor plants that can target different pollutants depending on the space they are placed in. Researchers are working with around 18 parameters, including room size, footfall, location and the type of pollutants typically present in an area.“For example, a large room with high footfall or one located near laboratories may require a different set of plants compared to a smaller, less crowded space,” said Professor Malti Sharma, also part of the project. “We are trying to continue from where NASA left — it theorised that plants can absorb pollutants; we are experimenting with that in real-world conditions to build a workable solution.”The project is currently in its initial stages, with assorted plant combinations being placed across spaces within the college. The team plans to monitor air quality using dedicated devices at different intervals — including, during peak occupancy — to assess how effective the plants are in reducing pollution levels.The initiative involves six undergraduate students from chemistry and botany departments, who are assisting the seniors in identifying plant varieties, mapping conditions and recording data.Beyond research, the college is also exploring the possibility of scaling the model. If successful, the plant-based system could be adapted for houses, educational institutions and office spaces, and shared through inter-college exhibitions or collaborations as a cost-effective alternative to conventional air purifiers.Miranda House also plans to eventually replace existing air purifiers on campus with these plant-based systems, aiming to combine air purification along with campus beautification. “The idea is to create something practical and affordable that can be used in everyday indoor environments,” Sharma said.
