Mg, Sn, Cd, Zn and Fe accumulation in unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris and its effects on growth, content of photosynthetic pigments and protein

Main Article Content

A. Saberi
M. Taherizadeh
N. Amrollahi Biuki
L. Fathurrahman
F. Lavajoo

Abstract

A technique to purify wastewater based on microalgae is an attractive and promising idea for its potential to clean water and as supplementary aquaculture feedstocks. The present study aimed to investigate magnesium (Mg), tin (Sn), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) effects in the unicellular green algae Chlorella vulgaris as a primary producer and the relationship with the growth, the content of photosynthetic pigments and protein. The ions effects were evaluated by measuring the effect of different ion concentrations on algal growth during a 15-day exposure period. Samples were collected every 3 days over 15 days of the cultivation period to estimate the growth of C. vulgaris. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and protein contents of samples were determined on the 15th day of cultivation. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the growth and Chl-a content of C. vulgaris at different ion concentrations. These could be related to the specific differences in cell metabolism. The highest protein content was found at 5 ppm concentration of Mg (23.03 ± 0.02 μg/mL), Sn (18.82 ± 0.02 μg/mL), Cd (12.52 ± 0.11 μg/mL), Zn (18.99 ± 0.02 μg/mL), and Fe (17.42 ± 0.02 μg/mL) ions. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the protein content of Mg, Sn, Cd, Zn, and Fe. Growth rate and total Chl-a content (mg/L) were highest at 5 ppm concentration of all ions and the specific growth rate (mg/L), Chl-a, and protein content of C. vulgaris were highest at 5 ppm concentration of Mg ions. This study can be a good model for the use of microalgae in the bioremediation of water contaminated with Mg, Sn, Cd, Zn, and Fe.

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References

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