Phytoremediation Potential of Ixora coccinea in Multi-Metal Contaminated Soil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2543.015Keywords:
Phytoremediation, BCF, TF, Ixora Coccinea, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)Abstract
This study examined the phytoremediation potential of Ixora coccinea through a greenhouse pot experiment. The plants were transplanted into 3 kg of soil artificially contaminated with Ni (as NiSO₄·6H₂O), Pb (as Pb(NO₃)₂), and Co (as CoCl₂·6H₂O) at concentrations of 1000 mg, 2000 mg, and 3000 mg, respectively. A separate pot with uncontaminated soil served as a control. The plants were watered with 650 mL of water every two days in the evening for sixteen weeks. At the end of the experiment, plant and soil samples were collected and carefully separated into roots and shoots. These components, along with the soil, were dried, ground, and sieved. The sieved soil, roots, and shoots from both the experimental and control groups were digested with aqua regia, followed by analysis using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Bio-concentration Factor (BCF) and Translocation Factor (TF) were calculated for Co, Ni, and Pb. The BCF values of I. coccinea for Co, Ni, and Pb were 15.64, 1.32, and 1.50, respectively. The TF values for Co and Pb were below unity, while Ni showed the highest TF value of 2.3. These findings suggest that I. coccinea is a promising candidate for the phyto-extraction of Ni, as it exhibited both BCF and TF values greater than unity. However, its lower TF values for Co and Pb indicate a decreased affinity for these metals
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