Phytoremediation Potential of <em>Ceratophyllum</em> sp. on Arsenic-Contaminated Conditions

Abstract

Purpose: Aquatic contamination with arsenic is a serious problem as people will be at risk of arsenic toxicity when using and drinking contaminated water. Phytoremediation is a possible way to remove arsenic from contaminated water; however, arsenic is usually toxic to aquatic plants and decreases the phytoremediation efficiency. Alleviating the toxicity of arsenic to plant growth may be possible. Thus, increasing the phytoremediation capacity to decontaminate arsenic-contaminated water, aided by plant growth regulators, is a challenge. Thus, this study aimed to increase the potential of Ceratophyllum sp. to remove arsenic from contaminated water when plant growth regulators were added. Research Method: Ceratophyllum sp. was cultured in 2.50mg/L of arsenic-contaminated water for five days. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with one factor and five treatments (no plant growth regulator, salicylic acid, indole butyric acid, salicylic acid + calcium chloride and indole butyric acid + calcium chloride). Then the growth of Ceratophyllum sp., arsenic concentration in the plant biomass and the arsenic remaining in the water was determined at the end of the experiment. Findings: The use of salicylic acid and salicylic acid + calcium chloride tended to increase the fresh and dry weight of Ceratophyllum sp. grown in arsenic-contaminated conditions, but both formulas of plant growth regulator did not increase the arsenic accumulation in the biomass of Ceratophyllum sp. Application of indole butyric acid in combination with calcium chloride tended to increase the accumulation of arsenic in the biomass of Ceratophyllum sp. so it was 121.9mg/kg, but the bioconcentration factor was only 39.2. The application of salicylic or indole butyric acid tended to increase the removal of arsenic from contaminated water; however, the amount of arsenic remaining under applications of both plant growth regulators was not significantly different from that without plant growth regulator application. Research Limitation: There was no research limitation in this study. Originality/ Value: Based on the results in this study, Ceratophyllum sp. had no potential to remove arsenic from contaminated water and the plant growth regulator used in this study was not necessary to be used in the stimulation of arsenic removal.