Determination of Zinc Uptake by Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for Phytoremediation

This study investigates the ability of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) as a
potential plant for phytoremediation of ex-mining soil. Ex-mining soil is
seemed to have high amount of heavy metals such as zinc, lead and copper.
This investigation on the ability of kenaf will be focused on its ability towards
zinc. Zinc is one of the heavy metals that discovered in the ex-mining soil in
Tronoh which meet its intervention concentration point. The study will be
conducted by propagating the plants into contaminated soil spiked with zinc
with various concentrations. The concentrations are selected based on normal
amount of the zinc in the typical soil and the soil from ex-mining soil in
Tronoh. The parts of the plants that will be studied are the root, stem and
leaves. Each of the samples will be digested and analyzed in the lab using
Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The ability of kenaf to accumulate
heavy metal will determine its potential for phytoremediation of ex-mining soil.