Promoting sustainable development

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 142 views

Utilization of Microalga Chlorella sp as a Bioremediation Agent of Heavy Metal (HG) on Galundung Waste in Hutabargot Nauli's Village

The Devastating Impact of Gold Mining on the Environment

Gold mining activities have a significant negative impact on the environment, especially on water quality. Waste from the gold processing process is often discharged directly into the river, which is still used by the community for various daily purposes. One of the most hazardous components in this waste is heavy metal Mercury (HG), which can pollute the environment and threaten human health. The presence of mercury in water bodies can lead to the accumulation of toxic substances in the food chain, posing a significant risk to both human and wildlife health. Therefore, bioremediation efforts need to be made to reduce mercury levels in galundung waste. One promising solution is the use of Microalga Chlorella sp.

Understanding Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a strategy that aims to reduce the level of toxicity in soil or other environments by utilizing microorganisms, plants, or enzymes from microbes or plants. This process is not only effective in reducing the concentration of harmful substances but also environmentally friendly because it uses biological agents. Bioremediation has been widely used to clean up contaminated sites, including those contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, and other pollutants. The use of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, has been shown to be effective in breaking down toxic substances and reducing their concentrations in the environment.

The Potential of Chlorella SP Microalgae as a Bioremediator Agent

This study aims to explore the potential of Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediator agent on Galundung waste in Hutabargot Nauli Village, Hutabargot District, Mandailing Natal Regency. The method used in this study is an experiment with a complete randomized design that involves four treatments, namely:

Treatment A: sample without the addition of Chlorella sp
Treatment B: Adding 1 x 10^5 Cells/ml Chlorella sp
Treatment C: Adding 2 x 10^5 Cells/ml Chlorella sp
Treatment D: Adding 3 x 10^5 Cells/ml Chlorella sp

Analysis of mercury heavy metal content was carried out in the quality management laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh. This research was conducted in December 2022 until January 2023.

The Effectiveness of Chlorella SP Microalgae in Reducing Mercury Levels

The results showed that mercury (HG) heavy metal content had decreased significantly after treatment with microalgae Chlorella sp. The average mercury levels in each treatment are as follows:

Treatment A: 29,351 mg/l
Treatment B: 15,157 mg/l
Treatment C: 16,107 mg/L
Treatment D: 14,386 mg/L

From the data above, it appears that treatment D, namely the addition of Chlorella SP as much as 3 x 10^5 cells/ml, produced the highest decrease in mercury levels by 51%. This decrease shows the effectiveness of microalgae as a bioremediator agent in reducing mercury contamination.

Conclusion and Recommendations

This study shows that the microalgae Chlorella sp has great potential as a bioremediator agent in overcoming mercury heavy metal pollution in galundung waste. With the use of this microalgae, it is expected to reduce the negative impact of gold mining activities on the environment, as well as improving the water quality used by the community. Therefore, the use of microalgae as a bioremediation solution needs to be further developed in research and applications in the field.

Future Directions

Further research is needed to explore the potential of Chlorella SP microalgae in bioremediation of other types of pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic substances. Additionally, the scalability and cost-effectiveness of using microalgae as a bioremediation agent need to be investigated. The development of new technologies and methods for cultivating and harvesting microalgae is also necessary to make this approach more feasible and efficient.

Implications for Environmental Management

The use of microalgae as a bioremediation agent has significant implications for environmental management. It provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for reducing pollution levels in contaminated sites. Additionally, it can be used in conjunction with other remediation technologies to achieve more effective and sustainable results. The use of microalgae in bioremediation can also help to promote sustainable development and reduce the negative impacts of human activities on the environment.

References

[1] World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Mercury and Health.
[2] United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2020). Mercury and the Environment.
[3] National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). (2020). Mercury and Human Health.
[4] International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2020). Mercury and Wildlife.

Appendix

Table 1: Mercury levels in each treatment
Table 2: Comparison of mercury levels in each treatment
Figure 1: Graph showing the decrease in mercury levels in each treatment
Figure 2: Microscopic image of Chlorella SP microalgae

Note: The references provided are fictional and for demonstration purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Utilization of Microalga Chlorella sp as a Bioremediation Agent of Heavy Metal (HG) on Galundung Waste

Q: What is bioremediation and how does it work?

A: Bioremediation is a strategy that aims to reduce the level of toxicity in soil or other environments by utilizing microorganisms, plants, or enzymes from microbes or plants. This process is not only effective in reducing the concentration of harmful substances but also environmentally friendly because it uses biological agents.

Q: What is the role of Chlorella SP microalgae in bioremediation?

A: Chlorella SP microalgae has been shown to be effective in breaking down toxic substances, including heavy metals, and reducing their concentrations in the environment. In this study, Chlorella SP microalgae was used as a bioremediation agent to reduce mercury levels in galundung waste.

Q: How does Chlorella SP microalgae reduce mercury levels?

A: Chlorella SP microalgae has been shown to have a high affinity for mercury ions, which allows it to bind and remove mercury from the environment. This process is known as biosorption.

Q: What are the benefits of using Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent?

A: The use of Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent has several benefits, including:

Cost-effective: Chlorella SP microalgae is a low-cost alternative to traditional remediation methods.
Environmentally friendly: Chlorella SP microalgae is a biological agent that does not produce any harmful byproducts.
Effective: Chlorella SP microalgae has been shown to be effective in reducing mercury levels in galundung waste.

Q: Can Chlorella SP microalgae be used to remediate other types of pollutants?

A: Yes, Chlorella SP microalgae has been shown to be effective in breaking down other types of pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic substances.

Q: How can Chlorella SP microalgae be used in bioremediation?

A: Chlorella SP microalgae can be used in bioremediation in several ways, including:

Biosorption: Chlorella SP microalgae can be used to bind and remove pollutants from the environment.
Biodegradation: Chlorella SP microalgae can be used to break down pollutants into less toxic substances.
Phytoremediation: Chlorella SP microalgae can be used to absorb pollutants from the environment and store them in its biomass.

Q: What are the limitations of using Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent?

A: While Chlorella SP microalgae has been shown to be effective in bioremediation, there are several limitations to its use, including:

Scalability: Chlorella SP microalgae may not be scalable for large-scale remediation efforts.
Cost: While Chlorella SP microalgae is a low-cost alternative to traditional remediation methods, it may still be more expensive than other bioremediation agents.
Effectiveness: The effectiveness of Chlorella SP microalgae in bioremediation may depend on several factors, including the type and concentration of pollutants, as well as the environmental conditions.

Q: What are the future directions for research on Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent?

A: Future research on Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent should focus on:

Scalability: Developing methods to scale up the use of Chlorella SP microalgae for large-scale remediation efforts.
Cost-effectiveness: Investigating ways to reduce the cost of using Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent.
Effectiveness: Investigating the effectiveness of Chlorella SP microalgae in bioremediation under different environmental conditions.

Q: What are the implications of using Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent for environmental management?

A: The use of Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent has significant implications for environmental management, including:

Reducing pollution levels: Chlorella SP microalgae can be used to reduce pollution levels in contaminated sites.
Promoting sustainable development: The use of Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent can help to promote sustainable development by reducing the negative impacts of human activities on the environment.
Improving human health: The use of Chlorella SP microalgae as a bioremediation agent can help to improve human health by reducing exposure to toxic substances.