 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
- ISSN: 2333-2581
- Modern Environmental Science and Engineering
Phytoremediation of Potential Toxic Elements by Tree Species in Abandoned Mining Sites
Abstract: Toxic elements such as heavy metals are left behind after the completion of mining operation and being non bio-degradable, these contaminate the soil and water ecosystem for generations. This research work evaluated the phyto extracting ability for potential toxic elements by eleven (11) tree species that are predominantly growing in an abandoned mining spoil sites in Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippines. Plant and soil samples were collected in the field and analyzed using ICP-OES. The soil was highly contaminated with heavy metals, largely copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and Iron (Fe) which is twenty times to fifty times more than the typical non-contaminated Philippine soil. Among the trees evaluated, Antidesma ghaesembilla showed the highest potential for Cu and Mn denromediation, having a bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 1.51 and 2.2, respectively. This tree species had high level of Cu and Mn per dry wt. in plant tissues. Other tree species that showed promising potential as phytoremediators for Cu and Mn contaminated soils were Alstonia scholaris, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Pterocarpus indicus. Alstonia scholaris gave the highest potential as phytoextractor for Ni and Fe toxic soils. None of the tree species was found to be hyperaccumulator for Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn and Zn.
Key words: phytoextraction, dendroremediation, bioconcentration factor (BCF), heavy metals
