Remediation of Remains Place Gold Mining Land Using Boiler Ash and Sludge from Palm Oil Liquid Waste Processing

Abstract

The activity of placer gold mining has ruined the ecosystem by disturbing the upper soil layers, contaminating waterways, and leading to sedimentation downstream. This study is being carried out in order to improve soil quality in Tanoh Mirah Village, Sungai Mas Subdistrict, West Aceh Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The main objective is to explore the impact of applying boiler ash and sludge from the palm oil liquid waste processing on enhancing the fertility of soil in areas previously used for mining activites. Infertile soil samples from the remains mining site were treated with a specific composition of boiler ash and sludge, placed in 5 kg plastic containers, and stored for 15 days. Subsequently, soil pH, accessible phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and exchangeable potassium (K) analyses were performed. The research findings demonstrate that after the remediation treatment, soil quality improved significantly. The soil's organic carbon content increased from 0.42% to 2.92% after applying 1,500 grams of sludge. The total nitrogen level increased from 0.02%. to 0.2% after treated with 1,500 grams of sludge, and 500 grams of boiler ash. The phosphorus content of the soil increased up to 123.13 mg/kg from original condition of 1.3 mg/kg, when 1,500 grams of boiler ash were added. In summary, boiler ash and sludge remain from the palm oil industry’s waste processing activities have the potential to be used for enhacing the quality of soil damaged by placer gold mining processes.