Lead and nickel removal using Microspora and Lemna minor.
Aquatic plants can remove heavy metal contamination from the surrounding water. This study examined the ability of Microspora (a macro-alga) and Lemna minor (an aquatic plant) to remove soluble lead and nickel under various laboratory conditions. Microspora was tested in a batch and semi-batch process for lead removal. L. minor was tested in a batch process with lead and nickel to examine the potential competition between metals for adsorption. The Microspora was exposed to 39.4 mg/l of lead over 10 days. Results show up to 97% of the lead was removed in the batch process and 95% in the semi-batch process. Initial concentrations below 50 mg/l (a dose that kills the algae) had no effect on the final concentration. The L. minor was exposed to lead and nickel using a full 3(2) factorial experimental design (nine experiments, plus replications). Initial lead concentrations were 0.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/l, and nickel concentrations were 0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/l in the experiment. Overall, L. minor removed 76% of the lead, and 82% of the nickel. No synergistic/antagonistic effect was noted for the multiple metal experiments, in terms of metal removal.
Axtell
Nicholas R
NR
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, 10 University Drive, Engineering Building 207, Duluth, MN 55812, USA.
Sternberg
Steven P K
SP
Claussen
Kathryn
K
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000378:metabolism*; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; D009532:Nickel