INFLUENCE OF CULTURE DENSITY, PH, ORGANIC-ACIDS AND DIVALENT-CATIONS ON THE REMOVAL OF NUTRIENTS AND METALS BY IMMOBILIZED ANABAENA-DOLIOLUM AND CHLORELLA-VULGARIS

The potential of alginate-immobilized Anabaena doliolum and Chlorella vulgaris was assessed for removal of nutrients (NO3- and NH4+) and metals (Cr2O72- and Ni2+) at different biomass concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.49 and 1.22 g dry wt l-1) and pH values (4 to 10). Though uptake of all these substances was higher in concentrated algal beads (0.25, 0.49 and 1.22 g dry wt l-1), their rate of uptake was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of low (0.05 g dry wt l-1) cell density beads. For A. doliolum, there was no significant difference in uptake rates for beads having densities of 0.05 and 0.1 g dry wt l-1. Chlorella vulgaris, however, showed maximum efficiency at 0.1 g dry wt l-1. Uptake of both the nutrients and the metals was maximal at pH 7 followed by pH 8, 6, 9, 10, 5 and 4. Of the different substances (organic acids and divalent cations) used, humic acid was most efficient in decreasing metal uptake. Mg2+ was, however, more efficient than Ca2+ in decreasing Ni2+ uptake. Immobilized algae with a cell density of 0.1 g dry wt l-1 were the most efficient for nutrient and metal removal at pH 6 to 8.