Phytoremediation Potential of Pistia stratiotes to Reduce High Concentration of Copper (Cu) in Acid Mine Drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) contains high concentration of various heavy metals and low pH levels, ranging between 2-4. The water samples used for this research are an artificial AMD, with varying concentration levels of copper (5 and 7 mg/l). The pH level is designed to be 4, where the designed pH level illustrates the actual characteristics of an AMD. The data for this research-pH and copper levels-are taken for 14 days. This research shows that exposure of the artificial AMD causes physiological effects to Pistia stratiotes, indicated by chlorosis of the plant starting from day 3 of the research. Furthermore, the result of this research illustrates that Pistia stratiotes is able to alter the artificial AMD's pH level from 4 to 7,3 in 14 days. This plant is also capable of reducing the copper content as much as 92,45% and 88,00% with initial concentrations of 5,3 mg/l and 7,5 mg/l respectively in 14 days, with peak removal at day 3. It can be concluded that Pistia stratiotes is able to neutralize pH level and decrease copper contents in artificial AMD.