KEMAMPUAN MELATI AIR (Echinodorus palaefolius) SEBAGAI FITOREMEDIATOR LOGAM TEMBAGA (Cu)

THE ABILITY of WATER JASMINE (Echinodorus palaefolius) as METAL COPPER (Cu) PHYTOREMEDIATOR 

Pencemaran perairan dapat bersumber dari polutan anorganik berupa logam berat. Tembaga (Cu) merupakan salah satu logam berat yang jika keberadaannya di lingkungan dalam konsentrasi tinggi akan menyebabkan efek toksik sehingga diperlukan upaya pengolahan air yang tercemar logam berat. Pengolahan air yang tercemar dapat dilakukan dengan teknik fitoremediasi. Pengolahan air tercemar dengan menggunakan teknik ini akan mendukung Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) yang bertujuan untuk menjamin air bersih dan sanitasi yang layak serta penanganan terhadap perubahan iklim. Salah satu tumbuhan yang yang berpotensi sebagai agen fitoremediasi adalah melati air (Echinodorus palaefolius). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kemampuan E. palaefolius sebagai agen fitoremediasi terhadap penurunan kadar Cu pada media tanam, mendeskripsikan pengaruh variasi konsentrasi Cu terhadap kadar klorofil daun dan pertumbuhan (biomassa basah) E. palaefolius. Penelitian bersifat eksperimental menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) dengan satu faktor perlakuan yaitu konsentrasi logam Cu pada media tanam sebesar 0 ppm, 3 ppm, 5 ppm, dan 7 ppm. Kadar logam berat Cu pada media tanam setelah perlakuan diukur dengan Spektrofotometer Serapan Atom (SSA), kadar klorofil daun diukur dengan spektrofotometer, dan biomassa basah diukur dengan timbangan. Analisis data penurunan kadar logam berat Cu pada media tanam, kadar klorofil daun, dan biomassa basah menggunakan uji ANAVA satu arah yang dilanjutkan Uji Duncan. Hubungan antara kadar klorofil daun dan biomassa basah setelah perlakuan dianalisis menggunakan Uji Korelasi Pearson. Data pendukung berupa pH dan suhu dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kemampuan E. palaefolius dalam menyerap logam Cu pada media tanam, kadar klorofil daun, dan pertumbuhan (biomassa basah) dipengaruhi oleh konsentrasi Cu. Semakin tinggi konsentrasi Cu pada media tanam, maka semakin besar penyerapan Cu oleh E. palaefolius dan semakin rendah kadar klorofil daun serta peningkatan biomassa basah. Hasil penelitian ini membuktikan bahwa melati air (Echinodorus palaefolius) memiliki kemampuan untuk menyerap logam tembaga (Cu).

Water pollution can originate from inorganic pollutants in the form of heavy metals. Copper (Cu) is a heavy metal that, if present in the environment in high concentrations, will cause toxic effects, so efforts are needed to treat water contaminated with heavy metals. Polluted water can be treated using phytoremediation techniques. Treatment of polluted water using this technique will support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to guarantee clean water and adequate sanitation as well as handling climate change. One plant that has potential as a phytoremediation agent is water jasmine (Echinodorus palaefolius). This research aims to describe the abilities E. palaefolius as a phytoremediation agent to reduce Cu levels in planting media, describing the effect of variations in Cu concentration on leaf chlorophyll levels and growth (wet biomass) E. palaefolius. This research was experimental using a randomized block design (RAK) with one treatment factor, namely the concentration of Cu metal in the planting medium of 0 ppm, 3 ppm, 5 ppm, and 7 ppm. Cu heavy metal levels in the planting media after treatment were measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), leaf chlorophyll levels were measured using a spectrophotometer, and wet biomass was measured using a balance. Analysis of data on the reduction in levels of the heavy metal Cu in the planting media, leaf chlorophyll levels, and wet biomass used a one-way ANOVA test followed by the Duncan Test. The relationship between leaf chlorophyll content and wet biomass after treatment was analyzed using the Pearson Correlation Test. Supporting data in the form of pH and temperature were analyzed descriptively. The research results show that the ability E. palaefolius to absorb Cu metal in the planting medium, leaf chlorophyll content, and growth (wet biomass) are influenced by Cu concentration. The higher the Cu concentration in the planting medium, the greater the Cu absorption by E. palaefolius lower leaf chlorophyll levels, and increased wet biomass. The results of this study prove that water jasmine (Echinodorus palaefolius) can absorb copper metal (Cu).