The Effectiveness of Coontail Plant (Ceratophyllum demersum L.) For Removal of Iron (Fe) Artificial Waste

Abstract

Industrial wastewater causes pollution to the environment. The content of wastewater contaminated with heavy metal Fe with high levels is toxic which damages the aquatic ecosystem. Thus, an appropriate and environmentally safe method is needed. Phytoremediation is a method of utilizing the ability of plants to reduce to eliminate pollutants in the form of heavy metal contamination in water. The study uses the ability of Coontail Plant (Ceratophyllum demersum L.), the plant is proven to be able to reduce the concentration of polluted heavy metals. Coontail plants are used in the amount of 5 stalks with a plant mass from 40 gr with a plant size length of 10 cm-30 cm in one reactor, containing 5 liters of heavy metal (Fe) artificial wastewater with a concentration of 12 mg/L. The phytoremediation treatment used three reactors where RK1 (control reactor), R2 (5 coontail plants) and R3 (5 coontail plants & Aerator). The exposure time is 6 days with variations in testing Day 0, 3, & 6 using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) with testing methods as SNI 6989-84: 1019. The results of sample analysis for 6 days in RK1, R2, and R3 reactors decreased Fe concentration on day 3rd by 11.6 mg/L; 4.178 mg/L; 0.4848 mg/L. on day 06 the final decrease was 10.87 mg/L; 0.3466 mg/L; 0.3229 mg/L. The percentage effectiveness of Fe concentration removal on day 03 was 3.33%; 64.44%; and 95.96%, on the 6th day it was 9.41%; 97.11%; 97.30%.