Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)

2005   Vol. 6B   No. 3   p.171-174

Bioremediation potential of spirulina: toxicity and biosorption studies of lead

CHEN Hong, PAN Shan-shan

(Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310013, China)
^*E-mail: hchen@tom.com; shan6027@126.com
Received Feb. 9, 2004; revision accepted June 7, 2004

Abstract: This study examines the possibility of using live spirulina to biologically remove aqueous lead of low concentration (below 50 mg/L) from wastewater. The spirulina cells were first immersed for seven days in five wastewater samples containing lead of different concentrations, and the growth rate was determined by light at wavelength of 560 nm. The 72 h-EC₅₀ (72 h medium effective concentration) was estimated to be 11.46 mg/L (lead). Afterwards, the lead adsorption by live spirulina cells was conducted. It was observed that at the initial stage (0–12 min) the adsorption rate was so rapid that 74% of the metal was biologically adsorbed. The maximum biosorption capacity of live spirulina was estimated to be 0.62 mg lead per 10⁵ alga cells.

Key words: Bioadsorption, Bioremediation, Spirulina, Lead
doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.B0171             CLC number: X172