Abstract
Plants remove efficiently atmospheric pollution by soot particles, yet the mechanisms used by leaves to capture soot particles are unclear. Here, we studied the adsorption of carbon black, as a model of soot particles, on a linear alkane, C36H74, as a model of leaf plant wax, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. We also studied the uptake of soot particles by Platanus acerifolia tree leaves by laser scanning microscopy. In particular, we used fluorescent amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots to follow the penetration of submicron particles into plant organs. Results show that graphene quantum dots penetrate the mechanical barriers of the leaf stomata and eventually relocate in the mesophyll system of Platanus acerifolia tree leaves. Soot levels can be decreased by 50% with the linear alkane. Soot adsorption proceeds partly by hydrogen bonding. Overall, Platanus acerifolia tree leaves are promising means for reducing soot from ambient air.
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The authors thank Eric Uram from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for his assistance in editing this article. The study is supported by the Project of Beijing Municipal Reform and Development (11000022T000000442837).
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Tao, M., Xu, Y., Liu, Q. et al. Penetration of submicron amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots in plant stomata, implication for the depollution of atmospheric soot particles. Environ Chem Lett 21, 1281–1286 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01535-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01535-5