The potential of Spondias purpurea (L.) seed and leaves extract as adsorption agent for phytoremediation

Nowadays, water pollution in Malaysia has become more serious from time to time. Although there are various existence treatment methods, but these methods have its own limitation. This study therefore, aim to identify the potential of Spondias purpurea L. as adsorption agent for phytoremediation. The study was conducted by doing phytochemical screening on the dried S. purpurea seed and leaves crude extract. The next step was by carrying out the adsorption efficiency as well as its removal capacity of nitrate ion and phosphate ion by using UVVisible spectrophotometer. Then, jar test water treatment on the sample water collected from UiTM Kota Kinabalu lakes was done. The result obtained from the phytochemical study of the seed and leaves extract of S. purpurea L . shows the presence of various secondary metabolites, namely tannins, saponins, terpenoids and flavonoids were detected in S. purpurea leaves extract whereas only tannins and terpenoids were detected in S. purpurea seed extract. Tannins as well as saponins that are established for the phytoremediation properties were detected in both seed and leaves extract of S. purpurea. Meanwhile, study on the adsorption capacity and removal efficiency shows that S. purpurea seed extract adsorbed and removed phosphate ion more efficiently than the S. purpurea leaves extract. However. S. purpurea leaves extract adsorbed and removed nitrate ion more efficiently than the S. purpurea seed extract. The result also shows that both seed and leaves extract of S. purpurea has potential as pilot scale water treatment. S. purpurea leaves extract was found to be better for the treatment of temperature. pH. conductivity and total dissolved solid in water whereas S. purpurea seed extract was better for reducing turbidity of water. In conclusion, both dried seed and leaves extract of 5. purpurea have the potential as adsorption agent for phytoremediation. However, this study still can be improved in the future by conducting more tests on different form of S. purpurea seed and leaves extract, and by adding up another parameter for verifying that this plant can be used as adsorption agent for phytoremediation.