St.

Paul University Surigao

St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 1

HEAVY METAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea

batatas) FROM BACKFILLED MINED-OUT AREA

A Thesis Presented to
the Faculty of the College of Education, Culture and Arts
St. Paul University Surigao
Surigao City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering

JOSEPH D. GASULAS
EDGAR D. GILLO
DANIEL D. PORPAYAS
JERRY V. SANCHEZ

May, 2019
 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area ii 2

APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis entitled

HEAVY METAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas)

FROM BACKFILLED MINED-OUT AREA

prepared and submitted by JOSEPH D. GASULAS, EDGAR D. GILLO, DANIEL D.

PORPAYAS, JERRY V. SANCHEZ been examined and is
recommended for approval and acceptance
for ORAL EXAMINATION.

ENGR. REMELOU M. MORALES

Adviser

PANEL OF EXAMINERS
APPROVED by Committee on Oral Examination with the grade of________
on ________.

MR. LARRY R. DILLO

Chair

ENGR. ANGELUS VINCENT P. GUILALAS ENGR. JACOB E. ROGADOR

Member Member

ACCEPTED in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of BACHELOR OF

SCIENCE in MINING ENGINEERING

ENGR. ANGELUS VINCENT P. GUILALAS

Dean, College of Engineering
 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 3 iii

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY
spaces)
This is to certify that this research paper is our work and does not contain any
material previously published or written by another person nor material, which to a
substantial extent, has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma in St. Paul
University Surigao, and other educational institutions, except where due
acknowledgment is made in the thesis/dissertation. Any contribution made to the
research by others, with whom we have worked at St. Paul University Surigao or
elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged.

JOSEPH D. GASULAS
EDGAR D. GILLO
DANIEL D. PORPAYAS
JERRY V. SANCHEZ
Candidates

Date

Attested by:

ENGR. REMELOU M. MORALES

Adviser

Date
 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 4
iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researchers would like to express their deepest gratitude to God for the good

health and well-being that were necessary to complete the research,

The researchers wished to express their sincere gratitude to the Thesis Adviser

for providing the researchers with all the necessary facilities for the study.

The Dean of the College of Engineering as well as the Research Instructor

patiently devoted his time correcting their manuscripts unconditionally for the success

of the study was also remarkable.

The Community Relations Officer, Soil Specialists, and Farmers assigned in the

Rehabilitation Area of Taganito Mining Corporation were also outstanding in their

support and guidance to the research study.

The Administrative staff and laboratory personnel from Department of

Agriculture – Caraga, Butuan City, and staff of VizCa Laboratory, Philippine

Rootcrops Research and Training Center were also recognized for the best services

served at hand.

The researchers were grateful to their parents, brothers and sisters for their

undying support. The shared valuable guidance and encouragements extended to the

researchers were always be owed to them.

 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 5
v

THE RESEARCHERS
ABSTRACT

The study focused on determining the quality of sweet potatoes grown in

backfilled mined – out waste area of Taganito Mining Corporation. The researchers
wanted to evaluate the degree of rehabilitation process of the mining company in terms
of soil remediation and phytoremediation of sweet potatoes. The researchers used an
empirical research design.
Based on laboratory reports of soil analysis, the samples during first sampling
contained metals such as Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn),
Manganese (Mn), and Lead (Pb). The samples during the second sampling contained
the same description of metals but differed in quantity. There was significant
percentage decrease in the values before and after growing of sweet potatoes.
The harvested sweet potatoes were analyzed in VizCa Laboratory in Visayas
State University. Based on the analysis report, samples had presence of Iron (Fe),
Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb).
The concentration values of some metals exceeded the permissible limit set by the
testing laboratory for sweet potatoes.
Based on the laboratory analyses reports by the testing laboratories as per soil
samples, there was reduction in contamination level of heavy metals in the soil. Also,
the sweet potatoes acted as phytoremediation agent since it helped clean the soil
contaminated with hazardous contaminants through absorption of metals.

Keywords: heavy metal, sweet potato, mined-out area, soil remediation and
phytoremediation.
 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 6
vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE i
APPROVAL SHEET ii
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv
ABSTRACT v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES vii
CHAPTER
1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction 1
Theoretical Conceptual Framework of the Study 2
Statement of the Problem 3
Assumption 4
Significance of the Study 4
Scope and Limitation 5
Definition of Terms 7

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 8

3 METHOD 14
Research Design 16
Soil Sampling Procedures 16
Materials and Instruments 18
Data Gathering Procedure 19
Data Analysis 34

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 7

Summary 44
Findings 45
Conclusions 46
Recommendations 46

REFERENCES 48

APPENDICES 51

CURRICULUM VITAE 64

DOCUMENTATION
 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 8

LIST OF PLATES AND FIGURES

Plates Page

1 IPO Diagram of the Study 3

2 GIS Map of the Vegetation Area in TMC 6

3 Mine Site of Taganito Mining Corporation 14

4 Meeting with the MEPEO Manager for the Avenue of Our Research 21

5 First Sampling of Soil Samples from Backfilled Mine-out Area 22

6 Sweet Potatoes were harvested after Four Months 23

7 Second Sampling of Soil Samples 24

8 The Researchers, ComRel officer, & Soil specialists

from TMC during Sampling 25

9 Samples were submitted to Department of Agriculture-Central

Analytical Services Laboratory 26

10 The Researchers went to VISCA Laboratory-The Philippine

Root crop Research Center 27

11 Samples of Sweet potatoes were washed 28

12 Samples of Sweet potatoes Sliced Thinly 29

13 Samples of Sweet Potato were dried in Microwave Oven 30

 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 9

14 Samples of Sweet Potato were Pulverized 31

15 Sample A-Sweet Potato 32

16 Sample B-Sweet Potato 32

17 Sample C-Sweet Potato 33

Figure Page

1 Data Gathering Procedure 20

2 Heavy Metal Analysis of Five Soil Samples before Sweet

Potato Were Planted 35

3 Heavy Metal Analysis of Five Soil Samples after Sweet Potato

Were Harvested 36

4 Average Percentage Decreases of Metals in Waste Soil after

Remediation 37

5 Iron Content of Sweet Potato Samples 38

6 Manganese Content of Sweet Potato Samples 39

7 Copper Content of Sweet Potato Samples 40

8 Zinc Content of Sweet Potato Samples 40

9 Cadmium Content of Sweet Potato Samples 41

10 Nickel Content of Sweet Potato Samples 42

 St. Paul University Surigao
St. Paul University System
Surigao City, Philippines

Heavy Metal Content Analysis of Sweet Potato from Backfilled Mined-Out Area 10

11 Lead Content of Sweet Potato Samples 43