Phytoremediation of Zinc, Copper, and Lead Using Ipomoea Aquatica in Water Contaminants

Abstract

Lake Tempe in the Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi (Indonesia) is highly toxic due to metal pollution from industrial activities and the activities of residents living around the region. Zinc-contaminated water poses a potential threat to biotic communities. This research aims to develop phytoremediation technology to effectively remove toxic zinc from contaminated lake Tempe. The use of plants as phytoremediation agents to accumulate metals in polluted water is considered adequate because the method is environmentally friendly and presents economic value. This study was therefore designed to assess the phytoremediation potential of water spinach against zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). Water spinach was planted in Tempe lake contaminated with zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) metals, and the study was conducted for 30 days under natural conditions. Subsequently, the Tempe lake physicochemical properties, including pH, TDS, TSS, total nitrogen, total phosphate as P, and Zn content, were measured, before and after the phytoremediation process. The ability of plants to absorb zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) were assessed by the bioconcentration factor (BCF). The results showed that there was a correlation between the BCF value and the phytoremediation time. The longer the phytoremediation time, the higher the BCF value are obtained. Infra-Red (IR) data shows the presence of metal binding in plants with the functional groups C=S, C=N, and OH. Water spinach has the potential as a phytoremediation agent in remediating zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) metals in polluted lake Tempe water.