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International Journal on Algae

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9429

Institutional price:	$905.00
Issues per year:	4

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2005, Volume7

105 pages

DOI: 10.1615/InterJAlgae.v7.i2

Issue price - $216.00

Bioremediation potential of Spirulina sp.: toxicity and sorption studies of Co and Pb

Jayant Doke
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune, Pune-411007, India

V. Kalyan Raman
Research and Development Division, Thermax Ltd, Chinchwad, Pune-411019, India

V. S. Ghole
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune, Pune-411007, India

ABSTRACT

This study explores the possibility of phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated wastewater by Spirulina sp. The culture was exposed to six different Co and Pb concentrations for 216 hours; the growth rate was determined by optical density at 560 nm. The sorption capacity of the culture for Pb and Co was studied. The acute toxicity of cultures was also found at increasing concentrations of Pb and Co (70 to 100 ppm, respectively) in which the fragmented filaments, decolorization, and cell disintegration in the presence of Co and Pb was observed. The results indicated that the increasing concentration of heavy metals directly affect the phycocyanin production in Spirulina sp. At 10-ppm concentration of Pb the sorption was 42%, which at 100-ppm concentration, sorption was found to be 14.2% within 24 hours of the time interval, but in the case of Co 10 ppm and 100-ppm concentration the sorption was 21 % and 24%, respectively. The lower concentration (< 30 ppm) of Pb, the effect on phycocyanin production was reduced to 30% after 72 hours of exposure. But at higher concentrations of Pb (> 50 ppm), the phycocyanin was reduced to 40%. At higher concentrations (> 70 ppm) of Co there was a 75% reduction in phycocyanin prod uction.