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Potential for heavy metal (copper and zinc) removal from contaminated marine sediments using microalgae and light emitting diodes

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Abstract

The effects of monochromatic (blue, yellow and red LED) and mixed wavelengths (fluorescent lamp) on the adsorption and absorption of Cu and Zn by Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Nitzschia sp., Skeletonema sp., and Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. In addition, we confirmed the potential of microalgae for phytoremediation of these heavy metals from contaminated marine sediment by using microcosm experiments that incorporated LEDs and semipermeable membrane (SPM) tube containing microalgae. Among the four microalgae, C. vulgaris grown under red LED exhibited the highest Cu and Zn removal with values of 17.5 × 10-15 g Cu/cell and 38.3 × 10-15 g Zn/cell, respectively. Thus, C. vulgaris could be a useful species for phytoremediation. In the microcosm experiments with SPM containing C. vulgaris, the highest Cu and Zn removal from sediment and interstitial water showed under red LED. Therefore, phytoremediation using LED and SPM tube containing microalgae could be utilized as an eco-friendly technique for remediating contaminated marine sediment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea Inter-University Institute of Ocean Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Korea

    Hyeong Kyu Kwon

  2. Department of Oceanography, College of Environmental and Marine Sciences and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Korea

    Jin Young Jeon & Seok Jin Oh

  3. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    Hyeong Kyu Kwon

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  1. Hyeong Kyu Kwon
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  2. Jin Young Jeon
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Correspondence to Seok Jin Oh.

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Kwon, H.K., Jeon, J.Y. & Oh, S.J. Potential for heavy metal (copper and zinc) removal from contaminated marine sediments using microalgae and light emitting diodes. Ocean Sci. J. 52, 57–66 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-017-0001-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-017-0001-z

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