Plants act as natural scrubbers of urban air particulate matter. However, chemical fractionation of leaf-deposited particulate matter is an unexplored research area demanding immediate attention to get an insight into the source and fate of elements in plants. Therefore, work was carried out to evaluate the spatial and species variability in capturing air particles with variable elemental chemical fractions in an urban area in India. The results favor a distinct spatial and species variability in trapping total and fractional elemental leaf-deposited particulate matter (p < 0.05). Spatially, sensitive (0.135–16.979 μg/cm²) and industrial zones (0.043–3.982 μg/cm²) had a significant impact on the elemental fractionation of particles with the highest inter-species variation. Similarly, Mangifera indica was the best performer in trapping elements of all chemical fractions and was in the order M. indica > Butea monosperma > Ficus benghalensis. Ca and Na were found to be in all chemical fractions. When evaluated for biochemical impact, the leaf-extract pH and relative water content did not show any significant role in regulating the chemical fractionation in leaf deposits. Scanning electron micrographs highlighted the role of the waxy layer and pubescens as efficient particle retention zones. Thus, it is concluded that the chemical fractionation of elements in leaf-deposited particulate matter depends on the category of area and type of plant species.

植物充当城市空气颗粒物的天然洗涤器。然而，叶子沉积颗粒物的化学分馏是一个尚未探索的研究领域，需要立即关注以深入了解植物中元素的来源和命运。因此，开展了评估印度城市地区捕获具有可变元素化学成分的空气颗粒的空间和物种变异性的工作。结果表明，捕集叶沉积颗粒物的总元素和部分元素具有明显的空间和物种变异性（p < 0.05）。在空间上，敏感区（0.135–16.979 μg/cm ²）和工业区（0.043–3.982 μg/cm ²）对颗粒的元素分馏具有显着影响，且种间变异最高。类似地，Mangifera indica在捕获所有化学组分的元素方面表现最好，并且其顺序为Mangifera indica > Butea monosperma > Ficus benghalensis。发现所有化学成分中均含有 Ca 和 Na。当评估生化影响时，叶提取物 pH 值和相对水含量在调节叶沉积物中的化学分馏方面没有表现出任何显着作用。扫描电子显微照片强调了蜡层和毛毛作为有效颗粒保留区的作用。因此，可以得出结论，叶子沉积颗粒物中元素的化学分馏取决于区域类别和植物物种类型。