Effects of biopellets composed of microalgae and fungi on cadmium present at environmentally relevant levels in water

Abstract

Removal of cadmium (Cd) present at low levels (1 mu g L-1) in water was investigated using three different microorganism treatments: the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, the fungus Aspergillus niger, and for the first time biopellets composed of C. vulgaris and A. niger. After 5days, all microorganism treatments resulted in significantly lower Cd concentrations compared with the control. Biopellets treatment resulted in significantly lower pH values than other microorganism treatments, indicating that the biopellets should be investigated further for their water treatment capacity, since pH is a factor affecting the fate of numerous pollutants in water. Use of biopellets as a method to simplify harvesting of microalgae from water is also suggested.

Keywords

cadmium; biopellets; microalgae; fungi; water treatment

Published in

International Journal of Phytoremediation
2017, volume: 19, number: 5, pages: 500-504

SLU Authors

• Bodin, Hristina

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Kristianstad University

• Asp, Håkan

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hultberg, Malin

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Microbiology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2016.1244170

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/82631