Abstract
Nine green algae, a diatom and three cyanobacteria were shown to precipitate CaCO3 in batch culture, when grown in the light in a hard water medium containing 68 mg L−1 soluble calcium. The composition of the medium was based on that found in a natural hardwater marina where precipitation of CaCO3 within algal biofilms occurred. Deposition occurred as a direct result of photosynthesis which caused an increase in the pH of the medium. Once a critical pH had been reached, typically approximately pH 9.0, precipitation began evidenced by a fall in the concentration of soluble calcium in the medium. Certain characteristics of the precipitation process displayed by the diatom Navicula sp. were different to those of the other algae. All algae produced extracellular crystals of irregular morphology.
Using a standardized protocol employing the green algae Chlorococcum sp. and Stigeoclonium variabile, the effects of various inhibitors of CaCO3 nucleation or growth of crystals were studied. Fifteen compounds were screened and assessed for their performance in this context. Most materials effectively delayed deposition of CaCO3, many decreased precipitation rates and all had a marked effect on crystal morphology. The most effective compound was HEDP (1-hydroxyethylene 1,1 diphosphonic acid), which inhibited precipitation completely at a concentration of 2.5 mg L−1 The use of such compounds to reduce the precipitation of calcium salts within algal biofilms in natural hard waters is discussed.
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Heath, C.R., Leadbeater, B.C.S. & Callow, M.E. Effect of inhibitors on calcium carbonate deposition mediated by freshwater algae. J Appl Phycol 7, 367–380 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00003794
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00003794