Copper and Arsenic Recovery as a Post-Mining Activity using Indigenous Plant Hyperaccumulators under the program: “Program for Rehabilitation and Restoration of Mining Areas Through Phytotechnologies” is a three-year research.

This project tries to understand the potential of hyperaccumulators in the remediation or rehabilitation of areas affected by mining and also their capability of absorbing metals in anomalous amounts. The physiology of hyperaccumulation should also be well understood.

There is a need to strike a balance between elements to enhance the phytoextraction of 1 metal over the other. There is also a need to identify more hyperaccumulators as 1 plant may not confer hyperaccumulation for all other metals. Improved understanding of this process would be very useful in phytoextraction and phytomining technologies. The initial phase of the proposed project is aimed towards the identification and propagation of plant hyperaccumulators for copper and arsenic recovery. The subsequent phases will be the development of a technology that can recover the copper and arsenic from the plant.

XU engages in this research project in collaboration with Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Caraga State University and University of Melbourne, Australia through Dr. Augustine Doronila as part of the ridge to reef initiatives of the Research and Social Outreach cluster.

General Objective

Identification and propagation of Copper (Cu) and Arsenic (As)  hyperaccumulators in large mines and in small scale mining areas for potential Cu and As metal recoveries.

Specific Objectives

1. Assess the potential of different plant   species for hyperaccumulation of copper and  arsenic.
2. Determine the biology of 3 to 4 plant hyperaccumulators in mined areas to understand fully their potential for hyperaccumulation.  Physiological and cytological characterization will provide a better understanding of the hyperaccumulators.
3. Facilitate the propagation of these plants:  set up nurseries, transfer the propagated plant materials  to experimental plots.
4. Evaluate the feasibility of Cu and As  and other associated metals) extraction / recovery from  the plants.
5. Facilitate phytoremediation studies:  land stability and minimizing soil erosion, enhance succession  and biodiversity in the area.

Significance of the Project

Owing to the mineral wealth of the Philippines, mining has been one of the main sources of livelihood in different areas across the country dating back to pre-Hispanic occupation. At present, the country is one of the major exporters of copper, gold and nickel.

Similar to any other industry, a set of governing rules and regulations are being implemented to ensure that proper operations are being done. In some cases, problems regarding compliance arise, causing undesirable impacts to different sectors, such as the environment. As a result, efforts to provide solutions to such dilemmas are being worked on by concerned institutions.

Phytoremediation has been identified as a feasible environmental approach to restore or improve ecologically degraded land forms which resulted from poor mining practices.
The presence of high amounts of metals in the soil is generally detrimental to most plants. The Mineral Recovery Research team is in search of plants that can survive in these areas and take up high amounts of Cu and As from metal-rich soils to their biomass. These plants will be used in the rehabilitation of mined-out areas, followed by the recovery of Cu and As.

The team has identified a total of 7 potential hyperaccumulators of Cu and As (3 flowering plants, 4 ferns) which are currently being mass-propagated in the nursery in Cagayan de Oro for further experimental studies.

This project attempts to use GIS in developing data and information related to seaweeds in the Philippines, which will be stored in one repository where intended beneficiaries, such as policy makers and seaweed farmers, can access it.

Significance

Seaweed farming is now becoming popular in the Philippines with an estimated area of over 2300 ha (BAS 2004) and latest production of 1,558,378 MT (BAS, 2013). However, very limited information of the culture practices, varieties of the farmed seaweeds and actual farmed areas are available. Thus a massive mapping of farmed areas in the Philippines is necessary with the use of Geographical Information System (GIS), a popular tool for mapping and resource management. GIS is a vital tool in this project for data gathering, benchmarking and data banking. This is to determine the extent of seaweed production in the Philippines and map out culture techniques and other relevant information in each seaweed farm (water quality, seaweed strain, practices, etc.), which can then be accessed by the farmers, partners and LGUs.

There are three GIS-mapping nodes established to cover large area of the Philippines in partnership with selected institutions in strategic locations, as follows:

Node 1: Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan   

Areas

Central-Northeastern Mindanao to Eastern Mindanao: Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands

Visayas: Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Antique, Siquijor, Samar, Leyte

Luzon: Bicol, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Batangas, Masbate, Albay, Catanduanes

Node 2: Mindanao State University (MSU)-Naawan

Areas

Central- Northwestern Mindanao to Western Mindanao: Misamis Occidental, Lanao  Norte, Lanao Sur, part of Zamboanga del Sur & Norte

Node 3: Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST)   

Areas

Southern Mindanao to Southwestern Mindanao: Davao del Sur/Norte, Davao Oriental, Sarangani province, Tawi-tawi, Sulu

Xavier University is the central hub and provides expertise in GIS while member institutions participate by providing information using uniform datasheets which includes the various different parameters. The project starts with a training workshop on GIS familiarization, and recommended protocols and formats for data gathering.

After the training, data collections are performed by participating agencies/Universities in their assigned area of responsibility. Data is submitted, using standard format, to Xavier University for processing. The three nodes supervise and provide travel funds to participating institutions within their area of responsibility for the ground-truthing and mapping of seaweed farms. These are being analyzed and integrated by the nodal centers before submission to the central hub at Xavier University.

DOST-funded projects on seaweeds are being collected, also literature and other information for review and integration. The Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines (UPMSI) collaborates to provide information on seed banking and the areas of propagations of their seed propagules/ varieties. Further, the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also as collaborators provide information regarding existing data production areas and their respective contact details, information on processing and list of partners/members that they would like to be included in the mapping.

Macajalar Bay hosts several big local industries such as the Philippine Sinter, Del Monte Philippines, Mindanao Container Port, 210 Megawatt Mindanao Coal- Fired Power Plant, and supports around 75,000 coastal population (ESCAP, 1996). As industrial activities expanded and population rapidly increased, research studies conducted in the last decade (1997-2007) indicated a decline in the health conditions of some coastal marine ecosystems (Atrigenio et al., 1998, Aliño et al., 2002).

To establish a long term comprehensive data on the ecological conditions of Macajalar Bay, McKeough Marine Center (MMC) research staff and Biology faculty researchers conducted the 3rd bay resource assessment dubbed ReMODEL MacBay (Resource and Ecological Monitoring for Sustainable Development in MacBay), from April to May 2013. This was a continuation of the biannual survey conducted by MMC that began in 2008.

To determine the status of the coastal resources, assessments were made on four (4) selected permanent sites for comparison over time, namely, Brgy. Buko of Kinoguitan, Brgy. Lower of Jasaan, Brgy. Poblacion of Opol and Brgy. Moog of Laguindingan. Assessments were based on the following biological parameters:  (i) coral cover, (ii) fish density and biomass, (iii) mangrove cover, (iv) seagrass cover, (v) seaweed cover, (vi) macroinvertebrate biodiversity and (vii) microinvertebrate biodiversity. A project leader and 1-5 research assistants took charge of each component parameter.

The target beneficiaries of this study are the bay’s fishing communities, local government units within the bay and the academic communities. After analyses, data results generated should help stakeholders understand better the bay’s ecological conditions given the changes or trends observed over the years. More accurate information and better appreciation of results will equip environmental managers and planners to upgrade coastal management plan and implement effectively an ICM program. Data generated can be used as reference for short term and long term planning of industries and other corporations. Further, data can be used as basis for academic research and for appropriate interventions aimed at addressing future problems in the bay.

This will provide the scientific data needed for a science-based information and education campaign to increase awareness on the plight of the natural resources of the bay.

By: Czarmayne Escoro

Source: E. Villaluz et al. Resource and Ecological Monitoring for Sustainable Development in MacBay (ReMoDel MacBay) Mindanao Research Proposal Submitted to KRC

MMC Activity Center located in Solana, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental is open for reservations.

Includes: Function hall (open), small cottages, tree house, 3 double-deck bedrooms, and small conference room

For inquiries, call 858- 3116 local 3115 and look for Mr. Friday Atilano