The pollution of freshwater systems with heavy metals has detrimental effects on local inhabitants. This paper investigates the phytoremediation potential of freshwater algae <i>Chlorella</i> and cyanobacteria <i>Oscillatoria</i> on qualitative analysis group I heavy metals cations: Lead, Mercury, and Silver. The photosynthetic organisms were exposed to 15 ug/L concentrations of separate heavy metals and allowed to grow for one month. After the set time, the filtered water was qualitatively examined using a duckweed bioassay and quantitatively tested using EDTA titration. Both Oscillatoria and Chlorella showed significant growth in lead-polluted water. We are currently investigating the cause of the increased growth in lead-contaminated water. Concentration tolerance will also be presented to see where the threshold of toxicity is for these organisms.

Bioremediation of analysis group I heavy metal cations in freshwater systems

255th National Meeting (2018)

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