Cadmium Removal by Two Strains of Desmodesmus pleiomorphus Cells

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Monteiro, CM (Author) Other; Castro, PML (Author) Other; F. Xavier Malcata (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution

Vol. 208

Pages: 17-27

ISSN: 0049-6979

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 54 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-7BV

DOI: 10.1007/s11270-009-0146-1

Abstract (EN): The capacity of microalgae to accumulate heavy metals has been widely investigated for its potential applications in wastewater (bio)treatment. In this study, the ability of Desmodesmus pleiomorphus (strain L), a wild strain isolated from a polluted environment, to remove Cd from aqueous solutions was studied, by exposing its biomass to several Cd concentrations. Removal from solution reached a maximum of 61.2 mg Cd g(-1) biomass by 1 day, at the highest initial supernatant concentration used (i.e., 5.0 mg Cd L(-1)), with most metal being adsorbed onto the cell surface. Metal removal by D. pleiomorphus (strain ACOI 561), a commercially available ecotype, was also assessed for comparative purposes; a removal of 76.4 mg Cd g(-1) biomass was attained by 1 day for the same initial metal concentration. Assays for metal removal using thermally inactivated cells were also performed; the maximum removal extent observed was 47.1 mg Cd g(-1) biomass, at the initial concentration of 5 mg Cd L(-1). In experiments conducted at various pH values, the highest removal was achieved at pH 4.0. Both microalga strains proved their feasibility as biotechnological tools to remove Cd from aqueous solution.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11