The use of natural zeolites from Gunungkidul, Indonesia for preventing arsenic pollution of soils and plants

The impact of mining activity is soil pollution caused by mining waste. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential use of natural zeolite for stabilization arsenic in contaminated soil. The soil samples were obtained from the mining area in the top layer and subsurface and then analyzed for arsenic concentrations. Immobilization experiment was conducted by using natural zeolite from Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, and the effects of natural zeolites in preventing of arsenic were investigated by assessed Jatropha curcas plant. Immobilization experiment revealed that by adding natural zeolites will decrease the concentrations of arsenic in plant material and suitable for sandy and loamy soil. This result is essential for preventing point leading to the entry of arsenic into the food chain.