Accumulation of heavy metals by some wood-rotting fungi

Accumulation of aluminum, cadmium, lead and calcium was studied in the wood-roting fungiDaedalea quercina, Ganoderma applanatum, Stereum hirsutum andSchizophyllum commune. The heavy metal content was measured in mycelia cultured in liquid media in the presence of either individual Al, Cd, Pb and Ca salts or of their mixtures. After 8-d cultivations in media containing 1 mmol/L concentration of individual heavy metals, the lead content was maximal in the mycelium ofStereum hirsutum (90.6 mmol/g) while the mycelium ofGanoderna applanatum contained maximal values of cadmium (272 mmol/g), aluminum (600 mmol/g) and calcium (602 mmol/g). When the mycelia were grown on mixtures of all metal salts, lead was the preferentially accumulated ion except inG. applanatum which had a higher affinity for aluminum.     

Effect of cadmium on the ligninolytic activity ofStereum hirsutum andPhanerochœte chrysosporium

An inhibitory effect of cadmium on the growth and ligninolytic activity of the wood-rotting basidiomycetesPhanerochœte chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus andStereum hirsutum was observed. Delayed decolorization of the polymeric dye Poly R-478 was observed in samples with 0.10 mmol/L Cd. Addition of 0.25 mmol/L Cd to the cultivation medium strongly reduced the activity of both Mn-dependent and Mn-independent peroxidases ofStereum hirsutum, while the activity of laccase was not affected to a similar extent. The maximum of MnP activity in these samples was found during the exponential phase of growth whereas control samples showed the highest activity after the onset of the stationary phase (days 15–21). Cadmium at concentrations higher than 0.50 mmol/L significantly inhibited the activity of all enzymes tested in bothS. hirsutum andP. chrysosporium.     

蛋白酶分泌菌对重金属胁迫的反应

本文研究了Pb、Zn、Cu和Cd对3种蛋白酶产生菌：碱性地衣芽孢杆菌2709(Bacillus licheniformis 2709)、中性枯草杆菌1.398(Bacillus subtilis1.398)和酸性宇佐美曲霉537(Aspergillus usamii 537)生长及其酶活性的影响, 并采用生长抑制皿分析(GIPA)方法针对3种菌株在Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd不同胁迫浓度下的生长量进行打分, 分析其耐性与抗性指标(MTC与MIC)。结果表明4种重金属在超过一定临界浓度后, 对3种菌株的生长和蛋白酶活性均产生了较大的抑制作用。碱性蛋白酶对4种重金属均具有较大的适应性, 其次是中性蛋白酶对Zn和Cd具有一定的适应性, 而酸性蛋白酶对4种重金属均表现出被抑制状态。3种菌株对Pb和Zn耐性与抗性最高(2.0 mmol/L~6.0 mmol/L), 其次是对Cd也具有一定的抗性(0.5 mmol/L~0.75 mmol/L)。     

蛋白酶分泌菌对重金属胁迫的反应

本文研究了Pb、zn、cu和Cd对3种蛋白酶产生菌:碱性地衣芽孢杆菌2709(Bacilluslicheniformis 2709)、中性枯草杆菌1.398(Bacillus subtilis1.398)和酸性宇佐美曲霉537(Aspergillususamii 537)生长及其酶活性的影响,并采用生长抑制皿分析(GIPA)方法针对3种菌株在Pb、zn、Cu、Cd不同胁迫浓度下的生长量进行打分,分析其耐性与抗性指标(MTC与MIC).结果表明4种重金属在超过一定临界浓度后,对3种菌株的生长和蛋白酶活性均产生了较大的抑制作用.碱性蛋白酶对4种重金属均具有较大的适应性,其次是中性蛋白酶对Zn和Cd具有一定的适应性.而酸性蛋白酶对4种重金属均表现出被抑制状态.3种菌株对Pb和Zn耐性与抗性最高(2.0 mmol/L～6.0 mmol/L),其次是对Cd也具有一定的抗性(0.5 mmol/L～0.75 mmol/L).     

Utilization of Mentha aquatica L. for removal of fecal pathogens and heavy metals from water of Bosna river,Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of Mentha aquatica L. for phytoremediation of water contaminated with heavy metals and fecal pathogens from Bosna river. The water was treated with M. aquatica for 5, 10, and 15 days consecutively after which it was analyzed for the various physicochemical and microbiological parameters.

The initial concentration of cadmium (Cd) ranged from 3.644 to 6.108?µg/l, while lead (Pb) varied between 0.1 and 1.386?µg/l. After treatment, M. aquatica accumulated significant amounts of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) with the highest removal rates of 96.49% for Cd and 45.72% for Pb. Values of several physicochemical parameters were decreased after 15 days treatment period.

All water samples were analyzed for enumeration of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms by the membrane filtration. Removal efficiency was greater than 80% for microbiological parameters. The concentration of heavy metals was determined in different plant parts and subsequently, the translocation factor was determined. In M. aquatica plant parts, concentrations of Pb and Cd were increased after 15 days of treatment. Our results demonstrated that M. aquatica could be good candidates for the removal of fecal pathogens and heavy metals present in surface water.     

A comparative study of the wild and mutated heavy metal resistant Klebsiella variicola generated for cadmium bioremediation

Ten indigenous heavy metals resistant bacteria were isolated from the discharged effluent of Biological Sciences building at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The bacterial strains were isolated using enrichment method in tryptone soya agar (TSA) supplemented with 100 mg/L of Pb, Cd, As, and Ni. All the isolated bacteria showed multiple tolerances to the heavy metals; however, strain GBB 220, which showed a maximum tolerable concentrations (MTCs) of 2000, 1200, 4700, and 1000 mg/L for Pb, Cd, As, and Ni, respectively, was selected for further studies. The bacterium was identified by 16S rRNA sequences as Klebsiella variicola and was subjected to mutational enhancement by acridine orange and ethidium bromide. Eight mutants were recovered, strains K. variicola MutAa–Ad showed improvement in their MTCs of 2500, 2200, and 5000 mg/L for Pb, Cd, and As whereas K. variicola MutEa–Ed had same MTCs as the wild type except for cadmium which increased from 1200 to 1500 mg/L. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed that all the strains of K. variicola had multiple resistances to some of the antibiotics. The K. variicola mutants had their optimum pH at 5 and 8 while the wild type had optimum pH at 7 and 8. The cadmium removal efficiency of 97.9% at pH 7, 97.7% at pH 8, and 99.4% at pH 7 was observed for K. variicola Wt, K. variicola Mut Eb, and K. variicola Mut Ac, respectively. These findings suggested that the artificially mutated strains of K. variicola may be applied to remove cadmium from polluted environment.     

Employment of Rhizobacteria for the Inoculation of Barley Plants Cultivated in Soil Contaminated with Lead and Cadmium

In laboratory experiments, the rhizobacteria Azospirillum lipoferum 137, Arthrobacter mysorens7, Agrobacterium radiobacter 10, and Flavobacterium sp. L30 were found to have a relatively high resistance to the toxic heavy metals lead and cadmium (except that strain L30 was found to be sensitive to Cd). When introduced by means of seed bacterization, the heavy metal–resistant strains actively colonized the rhizosphere of barley plants cultivated in uncontaminated and contaminated soils. In both pot and field experiments, seed bacterization improved the growth of barley plants and the uptake of nutrient elements from soil contaminated with Pb and Cd. The bacterization also prevented the accumulation of Pb and Cd in barley plants, thereby mitigating the toxic effect of these heavy metals on the plants.     

Resistance to heavy metals by some Nigerian yeast strains

The heavy metal resistance of yeasts isolated from sugary substrates such as orange, palm wine and pineapple and identified asSaccharomyces carlsbergensis andS. cerevisiae was studied. The yeast isolates were tested against different concentrations of cadmium, copper, manganese, silver and zinc salts ranging from 1 to 20 mmol/L. Local yeasts showed resistance to 3–15 mmol/L cadmium, 18–20 copper, 16–20 manganese, 1–9 silver and 16–19 for zinc. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the effects of heavy metals on growth of microorganisms and selection of yeasts for the brewing industry in Nigeria.     

Use of Energy Crop (Ricinus communis L.) for Phytoextraction of Heavy Metals Assisted with Citric Acid

Ricinus communis L. is a bioenergetic crop with high-biomass production and tolerance to cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), thus, the plant is a candidate crop for phytoremediation. Pot experiments were performed to study the effects of citric acid in enhancing phytoextraction of Cd/Pb by Ricinus communis L. Citric acid increased Cd and Pb contents in plant shoots in all treatments by about 78% and 18–45%, respectively, at the dosage of 10 mM kg^?1 soil without affecting aboveground biomass production. Addition of citric acid reduced CEC, weakened soil adsorption of heavy metals and activated Cd and Pb in soil solutions. The acid-exchangeable fraction (BCR-1) of Pb remained lower than 7% and significantly increased with citric acid amendment. Respective increases in soil evaluation index induces by 14% and 19% under the Cd1Pb50 and Cd1Pb250 treatments upon addition of citric acid resulted in soil quality improvement. Ricinus communis L. has great potential in citric acid-assisted phytoextraction for Cd and Pb remediation.     

Effect of Heavy Metals （Cd, Cu） on the Gametophytes of Laminaria japonica Aresch

Effects of various concentrations of two heavy metals, namely Cd and Cu, on gametophytes of Laminariajaponica Aresch were determined by recording morphological changes of gametophytes, determining pH values and the heavy metal content of the culture solution, calculating the germination rate of sporophytes, and observing heavy metal （Cd） distribution using a fluorescence microscope. The results showed that heavy metals damaged the gametophytes, and were even lethal, and that the higher the concentration of heavy metal ions, the greater the injury to gametophytes. Gametophytes could not survive in culture solutions containing more than 100 mg/L Cd and 50 mg/L Cu and were only able to survive in culture solution containing a mixture of Cd and Cu up to a concentration of 10 mg/L, which indicates that gametophytes have a higher tolerance to Cd than Cu and that multiple heavy metal ions in solution markedly aggravate the damage to gametophytes compared with individual heavy metal ions. With increases in the concentration of the heavy metal, the burgeoning rate of sporophytes decreased acutely, and solutions containing multiple heavy metal ions caused even more marked harm to sporophytes than solutions containing a single heavy metal ion, because most sporophytes died in mixed solutions. The pH value of the culture medium dropped immediately at the beginning （the first day） of treatment, increased over the following days, and then decreased again. The pH of culture media containing multiple heavy metal ions showed greater variation than media containing a single heavy metal ion, with the extent of the decrease in pH of culture media containing multiple ions being greatest during the last period of the experiment. With increases in the concentration of heavy metals, the capacity of gametophytes to accumulate these ions increased. The blue fluorescent light emitted by the Cd-and Cd-binding protein complex existing in gametophytes in media containing different concentrations of Cd showed clearly the distribution of the ion in gametophytes and the results obtained were consistent with distribution determined using other methods. All results of the present study showed that gametophytes of L. japonica play a remarkable role as heavy metal decontaminators, especially with regard to Cd.     

Cadmium accumulation and tolerance of Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia fauriei (Lythraceae) seedlings for phytoremediation applications

Contamination by heavy metals is one of the most serious environmental problems generated from human activities. Because phytoremediation utilizes plants to uptake contaminants, it could potentially be used to remediate metal-contaminated areas. A pot culture experiment with four levels of cadmium (Cd) (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg of Cd/kg dry soil) was conducted to investigate Cd accumulation and tolerance of roots, shoots, and leaves of Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia fauriei as well as their potential for phytoremediation. Experimental results indicated that Cd inhibited seedling growth only at the higher Cd exposure concentration (40 and 80 mg/kg). The tolerance index revealed that on average L. indica is more tolerant of Cd than L. fauriei. Moreover, plants in the experiment accumulated Cd differentially. In comparisons between L. indica and L. fauriei, the leaves of the former had higher concentrations of Cd, while the roots of latter had higher concentrations of Cd. Furthermore, the roots, shoots, and leaves had very high bioaccumulation factors that markedly exceeded 1.0 (exceptional only in shoots of 80 mg/kg for L. fauriei), indicating that the seedlings extracted Cd from the soil. The leaves' translocation factor of L. indica was greater than 1.0, being significantly higher than that of L. fauriei. Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and total declined in both species significantly as Cd concentrations exceeded 40 mg/kg in the soil. In contrast, lipid peroxidation and proline content was found to increase with increasing Cd concentration. From the assessments of biomass production, Cd tolerance and uptake L. indica and L. fauriei could stand as excellent species for remediating Cd-contaminated soils.     

盐角草在Cd、Pb、Li污染盐土修复中的应用潜力

滩涂和内陆盐碱地是重要的后备土地资源。近年来镉(Cd)、铅(Pb)等土壤重金属和锂(Li)污染对盐碱地开发利用和生产安全造成严重威胁。利用盐生植物修复污染盐土是最经济有效的方法。本研究以盐生植物盐角草SalicorniaeuropaeaL.为材料,采用盆栽方式,通过比较分析盐角草在不同浓度Cd(0-50mmol/L)、Pb(0-50 mmol/L)和Li(0-400 mmol/L)处理下的生长和生理生化指标及离子含量的变化,研究盐角草对3种金属污染物胁迫的耐性及积累特性,以期探讨盐角草在Cd、Pb、Li污染盐土修复中的应用潜力。结果显示,随着Cd、Pb处理浓度升高,盐角草的株高、鲜重和干重均显著下降。低浓度Li(≤20 mmol/L)处理促进盐角草的生长,而高浓度Li(≥20mmol/L)处理则抑制植物生长。盐角草对Cd、Pb、Li的耐受性顺序为Li>Pb>Cd。Cd、Pb、Li胁迫可能降低了盐角草对Na和K的吸收与转运而影响植株的生长。另一方面,盐角草抗氧化酶系统对Cd、Pb、Li胁迫表现出不同的响应机理,多种抗氧化物酶协同作用,抵制Cd、Pb、Li胁迫造成的氧化毒害。盐角草根和地上部分Cd、Pb、Li含量随着处理浓度的升高而增加,其中Cd和Pb的分布特征为根>地上部分,Li的分布特征为地上部分>根。研究结果表明盐角草对Cd、Pb、Li的胁迫均具有较强的耐受性与自我调节能力,且具有富锂特性,具备修复Cd、Pb、Li污染盐土的潜力。本研究为深入研究盐角草耐受Cd、Pb、Li胁迫的机制奠定了基础,揭示了利用盐角草修复高盐碱土壤中Cd、Pb、Li污染的应用潜力。     

Risk Element (As,Cd, Cu,Pb, and Zn) Contamination of Soils and Edible Vegetables in the Vicinity of Guixi Smelter,South China

Risk element (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) contamination in soils and in two edible vegetables (Solanum melongena L. and Capsicum annum L.) was investigated in the vicinity of Guixi Smelter, South China. Soil As concentrations averaged 23.9 mg/kg. Sites near the smelter tailings recorded the highest levels of As and heavy metals in soils. The concentration order of heavy metals in soils was Cd < Pb < Zn < Cu. Cu and Cd in soils were abundant in the exchangeable and bound to carbonate fraction, while Pb and Zn were in the residual fraction, limiting their potential toxicity as pollutants. The proportions of the metals in the mobile fraction followed the order Pb < Zn < Cu < Cd. In Solanum melongena L. and Capsicum annum L., Zn concentration was the highest, followed by Cu, Cd, and Pb, different from that in soils and in the mobile fraction. Concentrations of heavy metals in the labile fractions in soils and in vegetables presented significant correlation (p < 0.05). Both of the two vegetables are not the Cu and Zn accumulators. As for Cd and As, Capsicum annum L. poses a higher risk to animal and human health than Solanum melongena L., with soil-plant transfer coefficients more than three. Root-stem is the main barrier for most of the heavy metals and As in the two vegetables, resulting in higher metal concentrations in roots relative to other plant tissues. The low stem-fruit transfer coefficients for Zn in Solanum melongena L. and for Pb in Capsicum annum L. suggested that very few of them could reach the fruits.     

Proline alleviates heavy metal stress inScenedesmus armatus

Growth and some metabolic activities ofScenedesmus armatus grown in the presence of different heavy metals (Cd, Mn and Ni) with and without exogenously added proline (Pro) were monitored. The growth ofS. armatus cells (cell concentration, pigment and dry mass) was inhibited by all these heavy metals. Addition of Pro to the culture medium minimized the toxic effect of the metals. The growth rate was somewhat higher in Pro-containing cultures and started to decline I d later than in cultures containing heavy metals alone.S. armatus cells accumulated the added Pro in response to heavy metals. The accumulation correlated with protein content. Cd was the strongest inducer of Pro accumulation, Mn being the weakest. Cells accumulated nickel more than cadmium and manganese. Heavy metal-treated cells had increased peroxidase and catalase activities.     

Biological cost of tolerance to heavy metals in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

The global rate of heavy metal pollution is rapidly increasing in various habitats. Anopheles malaria vector species (Diptera: Culicidae) appear to tolerate many aquatic habitats with metal pollutants, despite their normal proclivity for ‘clean’ water (i.e. low levels of organic matter). Investigations were conducted to establish whether there are biological costs for tolerance to heavy metals in Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto and to assess the potential impact of heavy metal pollution on mosquito ecology. Anopheles gambiae s.s. were selected for cadmium, copper or lead tolerance through chronic exposure of immature stages to solutions of the metals for three successive generations. Biological costs were assessed in the fourth generation by horizontal life table analysis. Tolerance in larvae to cadmium (as cadmium chloride, CdCl₂), copper [as copper II nitrate hydrate, Cu(NO₃)₂ 2.5 H₂O] and lead [as lead II nitrate, Pb(NO₃)₂], monitored by changes in LC₅₀ concentrations of the metals, changed from 6.07 µg/L, 12.42 µg/L and 493.32 µg/L to 4.45 µg/L, 25.02 µg/L and 516.69 µg/L, respectively, after three generations of exposure. The metal‐selected strains had a significantly lower magnitude of egg viability, larval and pupal survivorship, adult emergence, fecundity and net reproductive rate than the control strain. The population doubling times were significantly longer and the instantaneous birth rates lower in most metal‐selected strains relative to the control strain. Our results suggest that although An. gambiae s.s. displays the potential to develop tolerance to heavy metals, particularly copper, this may occur at a significant biological cost, which can adversely affect its ecological fitness.     

Bioefficacy of cadmium and lead on cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae

The sensitivity of Spodoptera littoralis second and fourth instar larvae to the heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) was investigated under laboratory conditions. Both Cd and Pb, even, at very low concentrations, had relatively high toxic effects on S. littoralis larvae. Cd was more toxic to S. littoralis larvae than Pb. In addition, the mean percentage feeding deterrence (FDI%) of Cd and Pb was concentration-dependent. The nutritional indices (consumption index, growth rate, efficiency of converted ingested and digested food, and approximate digestibility) of S. littoralis second and fourth instar larvae were more affected in Cd-treatments compared with those of Pb-treatments. Therefore, the presence of such heavy metals in the environment would exert an adverse impact on S. littoralis larvae and their development.     

Heavy Metal Accumulation and Ecological Responses of Turfgrass to Rubbish Compost with EDTA Addition

Domestic rubbish compost is a complex-polluted system, containing multiple heavy metals,which limits its application. In the present study, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb accumulation and ecological responses of turfgrass to rubbish compost were investigated following the addition of EDTA. The results showed that the addition of EDTA significantly increased heavy metal accumulation in Lolium perenne L.and Festuca arundinacea L. Most heavy metal concentrations in L. perenne increased with increasing EDTA supply. The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Cd in L. perenne were highest following the addition of 30 mmol/kg EDTA and the concentrations of Cr and Ni at this point reached concentrations of1914.17 and 521.25 μg/g, respectively. When the EDTA level was ＜ 20 mmol/kg, the accumulation of most heavy metals in F. arundinacea increased with increasing EDTA supply, but showed a tendency to decrease at EDTA concentrations ＞20 mmol/kg. The highest concentrations of Mn, Ni, Cu, and Zn in F.arundinacea reached 268.01, 110.94, 161.52 and 1 354.97 μg/g, respectively, following the addition of 20mmol/kg EDTA. The EDTA-induced increase in the accumulation of heavy metals in turfgrass was plantand metal-specific. L. perenne had a relatively high ability to accumulate Cr, Ni, and Zn. The highest Zn concentration was 2 979.58 μg/g and, following the addition of EDTA, the concentrations of the three metals were increased 26.23, 20.03, and 10.49-fold, respectively, compared with control. However, F. arundinacea showed a high ability to accumulate Cr, with the highest concentration (596.02 μg/g) seen following the addition of 30 mmol/kg EDTA; the concentration of Cr increased 15.51-fold compared with control. With EDTA addition, ecological responses of both turfgrass species showed that EDTA at concentrations ＜10mmol/kg increased seed germination and aboveground net primary production (ANP) of L. perenne and slightly inhibited those of F.arundinacea, but EDTA at concentrations ＞20 mmol/kg inhibited these parameters significantly for both species. Moreover, EDTA increased the chlorophyll and proline content at all concentrations tested. On the basis of the synthetic remediation index, the optimal EDTA concentration for turfgrass remediation of heavy metals in compost is approximately 10 mmol/kg.     

Effect of pulsed exposure to heavy metals (copper and cadmium) on some population variables of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus calyciflorus</Emphasis> Pallas (Rotifera: Brachionidae: Monogononta)

Heavy metals are widely recognized as potential toxic agents to zooplankton, yet experiments are usually performed with a continuous exposure to the metal being analyzed. Here we describe experiments that examined the influence of pulsed exposure of the heavy metals copper and cadmium to a parthenogenetic population of the planktonic rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. Our protocol called for exposure durations of 3, 6, 12, and 24 h to either copper (as CuSO₄) at concentrations of 0.0375, 0.075, 0.15 mg l⁻¹ or cadmium (as CdCl₂) at concentration of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 mg l⁻¹. Control animals were treated in similar ways but did not receive exposure to heavy metals. Four end points were used to evaluate the outcome of exposure: population growth (r), body size, egg ratio, and egg hatching percent. Increase in heavy metal concentration and exposure time had an adverse influence on the population growth of B. calyciflorus. However, while the response of B. calyciflorus was similar for both heavy metals, the magnitude of the impact of cadmium was more severe. Population growth varied depending on which heavy metal was tested, as well as its concentration and the duration of exposure (r = 0.11–0.28 day⁻¹). There was a significant reduction in lorica size of B. calyciflorus subjected to different exposure times and concentrations of both Cd and Cu. Egg ratios were inversely related to population density in controls and in treatments involving Cu, but not for Cd. While nearly 100% of eggs hatched in the control treatments, egg hatching in experimental treatments containing Cu, were reduced (range = 16–41%) depending on the exposure time and the concentration. Guest editors: S. S. S. Sarma, R. D. Gulati, R. L. Wallace, S. Nandini, H. J. Dumont & R. Rico-Martínez Advances in Rotifer Research     

CADMIUM AND MANGANESE ACCUMULATION IN PHYTOLACCA AMERICANA L. AND THE ROLES OF NON-PROTEIN THIOLS AND ORGANIC ACIDS

Phytolacca americana L. can accumulate large amounts of heavy metals in its aerial tissues, especially cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn). It has great potential for use in phytoextraction of metals from multi-metal-contaminated soils. This study was conducted to further investigate the Cd- and Mn-tolerance strategies of this plant. Concentrations of non-protein thiols (NPTs) and phytochelatins (PCs) in leaves and roots increased significantly as the concentration of Cd in solution increased. The molar ratios of PCs:soluble Cd ranged from 1.8 to 3.6 in roots and 8.1 to 31.6 in leaves, suggesting that the cellular response involving PC synthesis was sufficient to complex Cd ions in the cytosol, especially that of leaves. In contrast, excess Mn treatments did not result in a significant increase in NPT or PC concentrations in leaves or roots. Oxalic acid concentrations in leaves of plants exposed to 2 or 20 mM Mn reached 69.4 to 89.3 mg (0.771 to 0.992 mmol) g^–1 dry weight, respectively, which was approximately 3.7- to 8.6-fold higher than the Mn level in the 0.6 M HCl extract. Thus, oxalic acid may play an important role in the detoxification of Mn.     

Heavy metal uptake capacity of fresh water algae (Oedogonium westti) from aqueous solution: A mesocosm research

The green macroalgae present in freshwater ecosystems have attracted a great attention of the world scientists for removal of heavy metals from wastewater. In this mesocosm study, the uptake rates of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) by Oedogonium westi (O. westti) were measured. The equilibrium adsorption capabilities of O. westti were different for Cd, Ni, Cr, and Pb (0.974, 0.418, 0.620, and 0.261 mgg^–1, respectively) at 18°C and pH 5.0. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies for Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were observed from 55–95%, 61–93%, 59–89%, and 61–96%, respectively. The highest removal efficiency was observed for Cd and Cr from aqueous solution at acidic pH and low initial metal concentrations. However, the removal efficiencies of Ni and Pb were higher at high pH and high concentrations of metals in aqueous solution. The results summarized that O. westti is a suitable candidate for removal of selected toxic heavy metals from the aqueous solutions.