Houseplants Enhanced with Microbiomes to Purify Air Rapidly
Houseplants naturally purify indoor air, but the Neo Px air purification system from Neoplants aims to significantly enhance their ability. Utilizing bioengineering and a microbiome solution similar to those found in human digestive systems, Neo Px captures and removes harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) up to 30 times faster than regular plants.
The Neo Px system consists of a self-watering planter and a proprietary power drop solution. When added to soil, this solution enhances the plant's natural ability to remove VOCs like benzene, toluene, and xylene, which are commonly emitted by household items such as furniture, nail polish, and cleaning products.
Unlike electronic air purifiers, Neo Px does not remove solid particles like smoke and dust, but it operates silently, without electricity, and continuously. The system does not fully replace air purifiers but provides a complementary solution for improving indoor air quality.
Neo Px currently utilizes a Marble Queen Pothos plant, but Neoplants plans to develop genetically modified plants that could further enhance air purification capabilities. The company also suggests that this technology has potential applications in mitigating broader atmospheric pollution and addressing health issues related to climate change.