title: Removal and bioaccumulation of heavy metals from aqueous solutions using freshwater algae.
abstract: Four freshwater algae, including Cladophora glomerata, Oedogonium westii, Vaucheria debaryana and Zygnema insigne, were tested for their bioaccumulation capacity for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) in a controlled environment with an average temperature of 18 °C, and light/dark duration of 12:12 h. Experiments were performed in aqueous solutions containing selected heavy metals (HM) (ranging from 0.05 to 1.5 mg L(-1)) with 0.5 g of living algae at 18 °C and pH 6.8. The results indicated that C. glomerata was observed to be the most competent species for the removal of Cr, Cd and Pb from aqueous solutions. HM removal trends were in the order of Cd>Cr>Pb while the removal efficiency of selected algae species was in the order of C. glomerata, O. westii, V. debaryana and Z. insigne. The bioaccumulation capacity of C. glomerata, V. debaryana and Z. insigne was observed for different HM. Removal of HM was higher with low levels of HM in aqueous solutions. The results indicated that C. glomerata, O. westii, V. debaryana and Z. insigne had significant (P≤0.01) diverse bioaccumulation capacity for Cr, Cd and Pb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan E-mail: sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Isha
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shamshad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan E-mail: sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sardar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan E-mail: sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waqas
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Islamia College University Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Khushnood-Ur-Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Swat, Swat, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Kifayatullah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000378:metabolism*; D002857:Chromium / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D058009:Stramenopiles / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D058129:Zygnematales / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead