Abstract book of the 19th Alps-Adria Scientific Workshop, 26th April - 1st May 2020, Wisła, Poland

Abstract

Toxic elements such as heavy metals are left behind after the completion of mining operation and being non biodegradable, 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) and manganese Mn which is fifty and twenty times more than the typical non-contaminated Philippine soil. Among the trees evaluate, Antidesma ghaesembilla showed the highest potential for Cu and Mn denromediation, having a bioconcentration factor (BF) of 1.51 and 29.2, respectively. This tree species had 466.98 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Cu and 496.78 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Mn. Another tree species that showed promising potential as phytoremediators for Cu and Mn contaminated soils was Eucalyptus camaldulensis with 1.17 and 22.5 BF, respectively. This tree species had 360 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Cu and 382.13 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Mn, Pterocarpus indicus had 270. 75 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Cu and 287.30 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Mn and Trema orientalis had 219.56 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Cu and 215.21 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Mn. Alstonia scholaris gave the highest potential for Ni and Fe toxic soils with a value of 242.53 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Ni and 43,004.93 mg kgˉ¹ dry wt. of Fe. None of the tree species was found to be hyperaccumulator for Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn and Zn.