Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

BIOACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS USING MICROALGAE

OGHENEMISE ABIRHIRE AND MEDINA O. KADIRI

Abstract

A study on the bioaccumulation of zinc, iron, copper, cadmium and aluminum by Chlorella vulgaris, Phacus curvicauda, Euglena acus and Oscillatoria bornettia was carried out for four weeks in the laboratory. There were highly significant correlations for some metals between concentrations in the algae and water; The concentration of Al in Phacus was significantly correlated to that in water; Fe, Cu and Al concentrations in Chlorella were significantly correlated to their concentrations present in water respectively; Fe concentration in Euglena was also significantly correlated to that in water while Fe and Cd concentrations in Oscillatoria were significantly correlated to their concentrations present in water. Although, others had negative correlation coefficients but they were not significant (at p < 0.05). A metal concentration factor was calculated for quantifying the metal removal potential of the test algae. Oscillatoria had the highest metal concentration factors for Zn (0.306), Fe (0.302), Cu (0.091), and Cd (0.276) while Phacus curvicauda and Euglena acus had the same and highest value for Al (0.439).