Manganese is introduced into water sources by mine runoff, fracking, industrial waste products, pesticides, and fertilizers. Overexposure to manganese leads to a variety of health issues in humans, including progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative effects, with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. Other problems that arise from manganese overexposure include increased heart rate and blood pressure, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased fetal abnormalities. A possible remedy of this problem may be found in algae, which has been used to remove contaminants such as phosphates and nitrates from water sources in previous research. Ideally, the algae could then be harvested to produce value added products, such as triaclyglycerols for use in biodiesel production. Chlorella vulgaris is a unicellular green microalga that can produce up to 41 % lipids per dry mass with a short doubling rate, making it an ideal biofuel feedstock. While it has the ability absorb heavy metals, high concentrations may prove toxic, reducing the bioaccumulation ability. In studies of cadmium, copper, and zinc, C. vulgaris experienced metal toxicity with symptoms including reduced cell growth, decreased pigment concentrations, and decreased production of proteins and carbohydrates. The objective of this study was to determine the maximum amount of manganese that can be accumulated by C. vulgaris and the extent of which manganese exposure affects its metabolic processes. The alga was exposed to increasing concentrations of manganese added to the growth media. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy was used to find the intracellular manganese concentration. The cultures were also monitored for lipid synthesis efficiency, pigment accumulation, and cell mass. At the time of submission, it has been determined that the cells can accumulate up to 254 ug of Mn per mL of cell culture without inhibiting cellular metabolic processes. The rate of Mn accumulation as well as protein and carbohydrate concentration over time are currently being studied.

Manganese toxicity and bioaccumulation in Chlorella vulgaris

255th National Meeting (2018)

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