Abstract
Phytoremediation using the tropical plant Melastoma malabathricum L. has been investigated as an alternative to conventional treatment methods for the remediation of lead (Pb) contamination in soil. In the present study, lead (Pb) bioaccumulation by M. malabathricum L. was evaluated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to maximize the removal of lead (Pb), with three major variables employed (Pb concentration in sand: 20–70 mg/kg; exposure time: 14–70 days; aeration rate: 0–3 mL/min) in the optimization. The predicted optimum conditions were 44.1 mg Pb/kg for the lead (Pb) concentration in sand, an exposure time of 14 day and 0 L/min aeration rate, with an actual lead (Pb) bioaccumulation of 3596.0 mg Pb/kg. This value compares well to the value predicted by RSM (3855.1 mg Pb/kg). The difference between the validation value and the predicted value was within 6.7%, indicating that RSM was able to predict the optimum lead (Pb) bioaccumulation precisely with very low error. The maximum lead (Pb) bioaccumulation can be attained without requirement of aeration, resulting in a cost-effective treatment system.
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