Journal article
Growth and metal bioconcentration by conspecific freshwater macroalgae cultured in industrial waste water
PeerJ, Vol.2, e401
2014
Abstract
The bioremediation of industrial waste water by macroalgae is a sustainable and renewable approach to the treatment of waste water produced bymultiple industries. However, few studies have tested the bioremediation of complexmulti-element waste streams from coal-fired power stations by live algae. This study compares the ability of three species of green freshwater macroalgae fromthe genus Oedogonium, isolated from different geographic regions, to grow in waste water for the bioremediation of metals. The experiments used Ash Dam water fromTarong power station in Queensland, which is contaminated by multiple metals (Al, Cd, Ni and Zn) and metalloids (As and Se) in excess of Australian water quality guidelines. All species had consistent growth rates in Ash Dam water, despite significant differences in their growth rates in "clean" water. A species isolated from the Ash Dam water itself was not better suited to the bioremediation of that waste water. While there were differences in the temporal pattern of the bioconcentration of metals by the three species, over the course of the experiment, all three species bioconcentrated the same elements preferentially and to a similar extent. All species bioconcentrated metals (Cu, Mn, Ni, Cd and Zn) more rapidly than metalloids (As, Mo and Se). Therefore, bioremediation in situ will be most rapid and complete for metals. Overall, all three species of freshwater macroalgae had the ability to grow in waste water and bioconcentrate elements, with a consistent affinity for the key metals that are regulated by Australian and international water quality guidelines. Together, these characteristics make Oedogonium a clear target for scaled bioremediation programs across a range of geographic regions. © 2014 Ellison et al.
Details
- Title
- Growth and metal bioconcentration by conspecific freshwater macroalgae cultured in industrial waste water
- Authors
- M B Ellison (Author) - James Cook UniversityR De Nys (Author) - James Cook UniversityNicholas A Paul (Author) - James Cook UniversityD A Roberts (Author) - James Cook University
- Publication details
- PeerJ, Vol.2, e401; 17
- Publisher
- PeerJ, Ltd.
- Date published
- 2014
- DOI
- 10.7717/peerj.401
- ISSN
- 2167-8359
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2014 Ellison et al. Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451261402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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