Heavy metal binding and removal by Phormidium

Aquatic plants and algae are known to accumulate metals and other toxic elements from contaminated water. In this study, the metal-adsorption capacity of the attached filamentous microalgae, Phormidium sp., was evaluated. Under different pH conditions, the adsorption of cadmium, zinc, nickel, lead, and copper was determined. Results indicated that the minimum residual concentration obtained for Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cu was about 0.01 mg/l, while Pb was below detection. Higher specific adsorption was found at pH values ranging 5 7.