Evaluating the phytoremediation potential of Hibiscus tiliaceus Linn.: A comparative study with Ficus nota (Blanco) Merr. on oil absorption efficiency, microscopic structures, and chemical properties

• Main Authors: Santos, Ma. Juliana Erin Neria, Chung, Gian Timothy Delos Santos, Carmona, Carlos Rafael Dosdos, Chang, Leila Maxine Martinez, Ang, Sidney Steffan So
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Phytoremediation; Ficus (Plants); Oil pollution of soils; Plant Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_bio/78
• Institution: De La Salle University

Plants, with their natural properties, have recently been recognized as an emerging, effective, and cost-efficient method for phytoremediation, offering promising solutions for environmental clean-up. In addition to being an eco-friendly alternative, these plants could influence the effectiveness in rehabilitating contaminated environments, offering a sustainable approach to pollution control. This study explores the properties of Hibiscus tiliaceus Linn., leaves from the Family Malvaceae, traditionally known as Malobago in the Philippines, for its potential in oil spill management, comparing it to Ficus nota (Blanco) Merr., traditionally known as Tibig, from the Family Moraceae. The different physical and chemical properties of the plants were analyzed to determine key factors that could influence oil absorption. The following variables were assessed: (1) percent change in oil absorption capacity at different exposure times (30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 120 s, and 150 s) and modes (abaxial, abaxial plus adaxial, and adaxial); (2) comparison of oil absorption capacity with F. nota at 90 s; (3) microscopic patterns on the epidermal surface using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); (4) leaf wettability using a tensiometer; and (5) chemical composition and molecular structure via Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR). Analysis showed significantly different median percent changes only between 30 s and other time frames for abaxial, 30 s – 90 s for abaxial plus adaxial, and 30 s – 120 s, 30 s – 150 s, and 90 s – 150 s for adaxial. At 90 s, H. tiliaceus and F. nota had significantly different median percent changes across all modes. Micrographs of H. tiliaceus for both sides revealed stellate and dense trichomes, while F. nota exhibited non-glandular, sparsely distributed trichomes on the abaxial surface, but were absent on the adaxial side. Mean contact angles for H. tiliaceus were 111.978° (abaxial) and 82.031° (adaxial), and for F. nota, 86.07° (abaxial) and 93.85° (adaxial). The FTIR-ATR spectrum of fresh abaxial H. tiliaceus showed peaks for amines, alkanes and ureas; fresh adaxial H. tiliaceus contained amines, alkanes, and aromatics. For F. nota, the fresh abaxial peaked for alcohols, methylene, and ketones; fresh adaxial F. nota had alcohols, alkanes, and ketones. Overall, the SEM images, contact angle results, and FTIR-ATR analysis demonstrate how H. tiliaceus and F. nota differ in phytoremediation. This data highlights the phytoremediation potential of both plants, particularly in oil spill cleanup and self-cleaning applications.