Premium
Effects of metal quantity and quality to the removal of zinc and copper by two common green microalgae (Chlorophyceae) species
Author(s) -
Novák Zoltán,
Harangi Sándor,
Baranyai Edina,
Gonda Sándor,
BBéres Viktória,
Bácsi István
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
phycological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1835
pISSN - 1322-0829
DOI - 10.1111/pre.12422
Subject(s) - chlorophyceae , zinc , green algae , metal , copper , environmental chemistry , biology , algae , environmental remediation , wastewater , biomass (ecology) , pollutant , photosynthesis , botany , chlorophyta , contamination , ecology , environmental engineering , chemistry , environmental science , organic chemistry
SUMMARY Appearance of metals as pollutants in the environment is an increasing global problem. Microalgae as subjects of biological remediation methods may provide a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the removal of metals during wastewater treatment. Despite the high number of data in the topic, there is still little information on how the type and the concentration of the metal affect the process of removal. In this study, correlations among the algal species, quality and quantity of metals and characteristics of metal removal mechanism were investigated at lower metal concentrations (0.2–5.0 mg L −1 ) during zinc and copper removal of the green algae Desmodesmus communis and Monoraphidium pusillum . Analyses of the results proved that there is a statistically significant interaction ( P < 0.05) between algal species and quality and concentration of the metals, that is, they have a significant effect on the mode and extent of removal. Both metals were mainly extracellularly bound, but at concentrations of 0.2–1.4 mg L −1 , intracellular proportion could exceed the extracellular adsorption. Although there were differences between the two algae, generally copper appeared in a higher intracellular proportion than zinc in the whole studied concentration range. Overall, the quality and initial concentration of the metal is decisive for the way of removal, the knowledge of which is useful for planning post treatment retention times or post treatment processes of the used biomass during wastewater treatment.