Letters in High Energy Physics (Feb 2024)
Phytoremediation Potential of Serei Plants (Cymbopogon Nardus L.) in Mitigating Mercury (Hg) Pollution in Kusubibi Gold Mine Waste
Abstract
Mercury contamination from gold mining activities poses significant environmental and health risks. Phytoremediation, using plants to remove pollutants, offers a sustainable solution to mitigate mercury pollution. Serei plants (Cymbopogon nardus L.) have shown promise in absorbing heavy metals, but their effectiveness in mercury remediation requires further investigation. This study aims to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of Serei plants in mitigating mercury (Hg) pollution in waste from the Kusubibi Halmahera Selatan Gold Mine. Planting was done in poly-bag media filled with mine waste soil for 90 days. Mercury concentrations in soil and plant tissues were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry AAS). Plant growth parameters and mercury uptake were analyzed to assess the remediation efficiency. The amount of Hg concentration absorbed by lemongrass plants, adsorption on roots 374.401 μg/kg, stems 442.846 μg/kg and leaves 881.825 μg/kg. The Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) value on lemongrass roots was 0.31, stems 0.37, and leaves 0.74, while the Translocation Factor (T.F.) value was 2.372. The percentage of mercury (Hg) uptake of lemongrass plants in roots and leaves was 62.83%, 37.49%, and 74.66%, respectively. The plants showed healthy growth with no visible signs of toxicity, indicating their tolerance to mercury-contaminated environments. Serei plants exhibit strong potential for phytoremediation of mercury-contaminated soils in gold mining areas. These findings support the use of Serei plants as a viable, eco-friendly strategy for mitigating mercury pollution. Further research should focus on optimizing conditions for field applications and understanding the underlying mechanisms of mercury uptake and translocation in Serei plants.
