Heavy metal uptake capacity of fresh water algae (Oedogonium westti) from aqueous solution: A mesocosm research |
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| Authors: | Isha Shamshad Muhammad Waqas Maliha Asma Javed Nawab Nayab Gul |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China;2. Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Pakistan;3. Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan;4. Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan;5. Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Pakistan;6. Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Pakistan |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | Oedogonium westti macroalgae toxic heavy metals removal |
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