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Removal of Technetium from Solution by Algal Flagellate Euglena gracilis
Author(s) -
Ishii Nobuyoshi,
Uchida Shigeo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2006.0045
Subject(s) - euglena gracilis , flagellate , phytoplankton , chlorella vulgaris , algae , biology , botany , brackish water , plankton , chlorella , scenedesmus , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , chloroplast , salinity , nutrient , gene
Based on limited data for the removal of radioactive 99 Tc by freshwater phytoplankton, it has been thought that phytoplankton are unsuitable for remediation of 99 Tc‐contaminated waters. This work sought to verify the validity of this assumption by studying the removal of 99 TcO 4 − by freshwater and brackish water phytoplankton. The phytoplankton used were Euglena gracilis , Chlamydomonas pulsatilla , Chlorella vulgaris , and Spirulina platensis Each of them was incubated for 63 d, and the removal of 99 Tc from solution was periodically determined. Significant removal of 99 Tc was observed only for E. gracilis , and the maximum removal was 70% of the total 99 Tc added. The killed cells of E. gracilis , however, removed hardly any 99 Tc. When E. gracilis cells were washed with fresh culture medium, only 13% of the total 99 Tc was desorbed. These results suggested that intracellular uptake of 99 Tc by E. gracilis occurred. These results are the first documented example of significant removal of 99 Tc by planktonic microalgae.