THE IMPACT OF SEAGRASS ON THE DISPERSION OF MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION (BISPHENOL-A) IN THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM

• Main Author: Angelika, Stefani
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/72964
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Environmental pollution by various pollutants is increasingly occurring in the environment, including marine ecosystems. One of the most dangerous pollutants in this ecosystem is the presence of bisphenol-A in plastic waste, which not only threatens human health but also damages the food chain. Various alternatives have been attempted to filter this compound, but a natural adsorbent is still needed that has the ability to directly absorb BPA without having to go through a long chemical process because the activity of this natural adsorbent will always be continuous. Seagrass is one of the marine plants that has the ability to maintain ecosystem balance with its high productivity rate. This plant has greater ability to absorb pollutants in its environment, thus improving water quality. The purpose of this study is to test the role of seagrass in the spread of bisphenol-A in the sea and the ability of this plant to adsorb and reduce the level of pollutants in seawater. This study is a simple experiment conducted on a polluted sea model planted with seagrass in a coastal area. The results of the study were then mathematically modeled with Ordinary Differential Equations and Partial Differential Equations in the form of diffusion equations solved numerically with FTCS. This study is supported by literature that states the presence of seagrass in the model plays a role in reducing the concentration of BPA in seawater. Seagrass showed an adsorption rate of 51.6% and therefore has the potential to be used as a natural adsorbent for BPA.