Analysis of Arsenic in Purple cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata} L) after the Eruption of Mount Sinabung using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

Abstract

: The negative impact after the eruption of Mount Sinabung is the exposure of heavy metals to plants and animals around the mountain. The heavy metal commonly contained in vegetables is Arsenic. Many of the people around Mount Sinabung work as cabbage farmers. Cabbage plants that have many benefits, especially in medicine are purple cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L ). This work aims to analyze the levels of arsenic contained in purple cabbage after the eruption of Mount Sinabung. The sampling technique uses simple random sampling. Sampling was carried out at 5 points of collection which is 50 m from Mount Sinabung. In this work, Dry destruction method was developed using HCl and nitric acid. Instrument Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers (AAS) equipped with Vapor Hydride Generation Acessories were developed to analyze Arsenic levels. At a wavelength of 193.7 nm, The concentration of arsenic in purple cabbage was obtained at the sampling points 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively: 0.4755, 0.5808, 0.6534, 0.5517, 0, 5481 mg / Kg. This result is lower than the maximum limit of arsenic contamination in vegetables, which is 1.0 mg / Kg. (SNI No. 7387: 2009).