Application of algae in biomonitoring and phytoextraction of heavy metals contamination in urban stream water

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Biological technologies for wastewater remediation techniques employed to remove contaminants in urban stream water are increasingly receiving attention worldwide. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron in algal biomass and establish the feasibility of using algae in phytoextraction and bio-monitoring of environmental quality. Analysis of algal biomass samples in the Nakivubo urban stream ecosystem, Kampala, Uganda, showed that there was contamination by lead, cadmium, copper and zinc as indicated by enrichment factor and pollution load index values. It is suspected that industrial and vehicular emissions are the major sources of these pollutants. Calculated bio-concentration factor was > 1000 but with low concentration thresholds in each element, suggesting that algal biomass was a very good heavy metal accumulator. The bio-concentration values in algal biomass were found to be in the order of copper > zinc > lead > cadmium in the Nakivubo Channelized stream. In conclusion, algae can be a promising aquatic bio-filter plant for phytoextraction and bio-monitoring of polluted urban stream ecosystems and wastewater.

Bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr by <i>Porphyridium cruentum</i> (S.F. Gray) Nägeli

“…The concentration of heavy metals on the microalgae reflected the heavy metal concentration on its environment. Research that had been done in the Uganda's river was similar to the result of this laboratory experiment, that microalgae, particularly P. cruentum was a bioaccumulator of Cu > Pb > Cd (Sekabira et al, 2011).…”

“…Based on the Conti and Cecchetti (2003) criteria, result of this research shown that P. cruentum was only in the category of bioaccumulator, rather than good bioaccumulator similar to the result of Sekabira et al (2011). However, it does not mean that P. cruentum do not good bioaccumulator, since Conti and Cecchetti (2003) developed BCF for fish, therefore it was difficult to gain the criteria of good bioaccumulator for microalgae due to the microscopic size that was very difficult to reach BCF of more than 1,000 ppm.…”

Phytoremediation Using Algae and Macrophytes: II

“…Some potential ligands for heavy metals like carboxylic and amino acids, such as citrate, malate, and oxalate, histidine (His) and nicotianamine (NA), and phosphate derivatives are found to play an important role in tolerance and detoxifi cation Dietz ( 2009 ), Singh andChauhan ( 2011 ). The adsorption, phytoremediation, and affi nity of algae for heavy metal cations in wastewater treatment because of its high negatively charged surface (cell wall components) have been acknowledged for a long time (Sekabira et al 2011 ).…”

Phytoremediation of Metal (PB, NI, ZN, CD and CR) Contaminated Soils Using Canna Indica

“…Long et al 17 have recently reported a large biomass plant species, Sedum alfreddi, growing in some ancient Pb-Zn mine areas in Eastern China, which can also hyperaccumulate Zn. Sekabira et al, 18 determined heavy metal concentrations and distribution in Commelina benghalensis (L.) and Cynodon dactylon (L.) that grows in different polluted sites along the urban stream sediments of the Nakivubo drainage ecosystem in Kampala, Uganda and reported that the bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor values (BAF and TF > 1) for both plant species were greater than one for Cu at some sites suggesting efficient accumulation in the shoot. BAF > 1 and TF < 1 values for Pb, Cd and Zn suggest accumulation in roots and qualify these plants also as good candidates for Phytostabilization.…”