Arsenic, manganese, and cyanide removal in a tailing storage facility for a gold mine using phytoremediation

Abstract

In this study, six selected plants (Acacia mangium, A. auriculiformis, Leucaena leucocepphala, bamboo, Pennisetum purpureum, and Vetiveria zizanioides) were cultivated in a mine tailing storage facility in a gold mine area. P. purpureum, a monocot species, provided the highest phytoremediation efficiency. Therefore, it is a potentially appropriate plant for site remediation. It is interesting that P. purpureum is perennial, meaning it can be easily planted and requires less effort and input for care with the ability to flourish year round. Thus, this study recommends using P. purpureum for phytoremediation of heavy metals and cyanide in gold mine areas.