Skrining Kemampuan Absorpsi Merkuri pada Makroalga Cokelat Hormophysa triquetra dan Makroalga Merah Gracilaria salicornia dari Pulau Pari

Abstract

Screening of Mercury Absorption in Brown Macroalgae Hormophysa triquetra and Red Macroalgae Gracilaria salicornia from Pari Island. Macroalgae or seaweed has good absorptive capacity against all substances present in the aquatic environment, including mercury (Hg). The purpose of this study was to determine mercury content in brown macroalga Hormophysa triquetra and red macroalga Gracilaria salicornia and also on sediment and then assess the potential of both types of macroalgae as mercury bioaccumulator. Samples of macroalgae and sediment were taken from the northern, eastern, southern, and western regions of Pari Island, Seribu Archipelago in April 2016, analyzed by Mercury Analyzer NIC MA-3000. The results of this study indicated the mercury content in red macroalgae was higher than brown macroalgae. Mercury content in macroalgae from Pari Island waters was in the range of 21.50 ± 9.59 μg/kg (brown macroalga) and 41.45 ± 14.00 μg/kg (macroalgae red). The complexity of the functional groups makes the mercury content higher in the red macroalgae than in the brown macroalgae. The ability of mercury accumulation makes these macroalgae species potential to become bioaccumulator.