Potential of Mangrove Plants (Rhizophora apiculata) as Accumulators of Pb (II) Metal Ions in the Mangrove Ecosystem of Nania Village, Ambon City

Abraham Mariwy (Chemistry Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching and Education, Universitas Pattimura, Jl. Ir. M. Putuhena No.1, Ambon, Indonesia, 97233)
Julita. B Manuhutu (Chemistry Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching and Education, Universitas Pattimura, Jl. Ir. M. Putuhena No.1, Ambon, Indonesia, 97233)
Secondina Arbol (Chemistry Education Study Program, Faculty of Teaching and Education, Universitas Pattimura, Jl. Ir. M. Putuhena No.1, Ambon, Indonesia, 97233)

Chemistry Indonesian Journal of Chemical Research
Vol 14 No 1 (2026): Edition for May 2026

Mangrove plants play an important role in maintaining the quality of coastal environments because they are capable of absorbing and accumulating heavy metals from water sediments. Therefore, this study aims to determine the potential of mangrove plants (Rhizophora apiculata) as accumulators of Pb (II) metal ions in the mangrove ecosystem of Nania Village, Ambon City. The results of this study show that the highest levels of Pb (II) metal ions were found in leaf samples at three sampling locations, followed by sediment and root samples. Characterization results using XRF to identify the types and composition of elements in sediment samples showed that Fe, K, Ca, and Ti were the elements with the highest composition, followed by Ba, Zr, Mn, Zr, Zn, Sn, and Pb. The results of sediment particle type measurements using a sieve shaker at three sampling locations showed that the dominant sediment particle type is coarse gravelly sand, which has a low capacity to absorb and accumulate heavy metals. Meanwhile, the calculation results of the BCF and TF values of mangrove plants (Rhizophora apiculata) were > 1, indicating their ability as accumulators to accumulate Pb (II) metal ions in the mangrove ecosystem in Nania Village, Ambon City.