Air-filtering Plants
List of air-filtering soil and plants The first list of air filtering plants was compiled by NASA as part of the NASA Clean Air Study, which researched ways to clean air in space stations. As well as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, as all plants do, these plants also eliminate significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene. The second and third list are from Dr. B.C. Wolverton's book and focus on removal of specific chemicals.
Chinese Evergreen 
Bamboo Palm
or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Pot Mum or Florist's Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig') Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii') Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans 'Massangeana') Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Gerbera Daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn. Philodendron selloum)
Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum) Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn. Philodendron cordatum)
Snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')
Golden pothos or Devil's ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa')
Top performers for removing formaldehyde
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
Florist's mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis "Janet Craig") Weeping fig ('Ficus benjamina)
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata "Bostoniensis") Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)
Top performers for removing xylene and toluene.
Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Dendrobium orchid (Dendrobium sp.)
Dumb cane (Camilla) (Dieffenbachia)
Dumb cane (Exotica)(Dieffenbachia)
Warneckei (Dracaena deremensis "Warneckei")
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
Moth orchid (Phalenopsis sp.)
Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
The recommendation of NASA is to use 15 to 18 good-sized houseplants in six- to eight-inch (203 mm) diameter containers in a 1,800-square-foot (170 m2) house.
Foliage
Most of the plants on the list evolved in tropical or subtropical environments. Due to their ability to flourish on reduced sunlight, their leaf composition allows them to photosynthesize well in household light.
Soil
The amount of exposed surface soil is also important, as microorganisms in the soil consume trace amounts of airborne toxins as well.
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