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Sorption properties of algae Spirogyra sp. and their use for heavy metals determination in surface water

Małgorzata Rajfur 2Andrzej Kłos 2Maria Wacławek 2Tadeusz Majcherczyk 1Witold Wacławek 3

1. Opole University, Institute of Chemistry (OU), Oleska 48, Opole 45-052, Poland
2. Opole University, Chair of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology (OU), ul. Kominka 4, Opole 45-032, Poland
3. Society of Ecological Chemistry and Engineering (SECHE), ul. Oleska 48, Opole 45-052, Poland

Abstract
At present the classical, instrumental methods of the environment quality investigations are very often supplemented or even replaced by much cheaper biomonitoring ones.

The most commonly used biomonitors of atmospheric aerosol pollution are lichens [1, 2] and for assessment of surface waters contamination algae are frequently utilized [3]. Algae are very good sorbents of heavy metals. Utilization of their sorption properties in phytoremediation is investigated [4].

The aim of our investigations is assessment of algae utilization possibility for fast surface water classification as regards concentrations of heavy metals. In this case the classical AAS spectrometry requires solutions preconcentration.

Our investigation results concern mainly sorption kinetics of selected heavy metals  (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb ) from solutions prepared in laboratory. It was found that after about 30 min sorption efficiency is 90-95 %. After 30 min of algae exposition in water polluted with heavy metals, the increase in metals concentrations in algae is proportional to their concentration in the investigated water sample.

For example, concentration of Cd in algae immersed for 30 min in solution with 0.005 mg∙dm-3 of Cd (this concentration corresponds to the limit for IV class water) increased from 9.5 mg∙g-1 d.m. to 17.3 mg∙g-1 d.m. The standard deviation S.D. < ±10%.

 

References

[1] Kłos A., Rajfur M., Wacławek M. and Wacławek W.: Heavy metal sorption in the lichen cationactive layer, Bioelectrochemistry, 2007, 71(1), 60-65.

[2] Kłos A., Rajfur M., Wacławek M. and Wacławek W.: Determination of the atmospheric precipitation pH value on the basis of the analysis of lichen cationactive layer constitution, Electrochim. Act., 2006, 51(24), 5053-5061.

[3] Kamala-Kannan S., Prabhu Dass Batvari B., Jae Lee K., Kannan N., Krishnamoorthy R., Shanthi K. and Jayaprakash M.: Assessment of heavy metals (Cd, Cr and Pb) in water, sediment and seaweed (Ulva lactuca) in the Pulicat Lake, South East India,Chemosphere, 2008, 71, 1233-1240.

[4] Gupta V.K., Rastogi A., Saini V.K. and Jain N.: Biosorption of copper(II) from aqueous solutions by Spirogyra species, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2006,  296, 59–63.
 

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Related papers

Presentation: Poster at SMCBS'2009 International Workshop, by Małgorzata Rajfur
See On-line Journal of SMCBS'2009 International Workshop

Submitted: 2009-08-31 15:29
Revised:   2009-09-21 12:44