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Short-term uptake of heavy metals by periphyton algae

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Abstract

The utilization of periphyton activity for the removal of heavy metals from enriched small streams has been examined. By means of short-term batch laboratory experiments the courses of metal uptake have been studied. For uptake study naturally growing periphyton community and periphytic filamentous algae Cladophora glomerata and Oedogonium rivulare have been used. Uptakes of nine heavy metals — Pb, Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Zn, Fe and M n — have been determined during four hours' exposure. In addition the influence of humic substances on heavy metals uptake has been determined.

Uptake of all metals increased during four hours' exposure but not in the same way. Some metals were removed continuously (Ni, Cr, Fe and Mn), other metals were removed more rapidly during the first hour or first two hours of exposure and then only slight removal continued (Cu, Pb, Cd, Co). Uptake of Zn was rather unambiguous. Results of these experiments suggest that the course of uptake for individual metals could be similar for most periphyton algae.

It was established that humic substances significantly reduce heavy metals uptake. The highest decrease of uptake was observed in Cu, Cr, Co and Cd.

The results of model experiments are being tested in a pilot scale with respect to the demands of engineering practice.

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  1. Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Trojanova 13, Prague2, Czechoslovakia

    Jan Vymazal

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  1. Jan Vymazal
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Vymazal, J. Short-term uptake of heavy metals by periphyton algae. Hydrobiologia 119, 171–179 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015208

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015208

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