Biosorption of heavy metals by microalgae
- Author(s)
- Michael Lintner, Sergio Balzano, Nina Keul, Petra Heinz, Maciej Manecki, Agnieszka Klimek, Wolfgang Wanek, Norbert Cyran, Daniela Gruber, Katy Schmidt, Maria Holzmann, Jan Goleń, Jarosław Tyszka
- Abstract
Biosorption is nowadays recommended as an ecological and environmentally friendly alternative to remove metals from contaminated regions. Even in situ incubations of algae on the seabed are conducted to investigate potential future ways of reducing metal contamination. Our study investigated the negative effects on microorganisms when metal-enriched algae are released into the marine environment. We cultured the microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica strain CCMP1779 with
13C/
15N amended f/2 medium enriched with four different metals (cadmium, copper, zinc, lead) and fed the resulting metal-enriched microalgal biomass to Ammonia confertitesta (Rhizaria, Foraminifera) for two and six days. Our study is the first study dealing with the interaction of biosorbed metals and the metabolism of microorganisms. The effects of the uptake of these metal-enriched algae were recorded by evaluating carbon and nitrogen uptake. Examinations using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were also carried out to better assess the condition of the foraminifera. Foraminifera fed with metal-enriched microalgae show reduced carbon uptake and increased nitrogen storage, indicating stress conditions. These observations suggest that trace metals can induce stress which damages cellular metabolism. Interestingly, no cytological changes in TEM analyses could be observed, which might be attributed to the relatively short incubation time.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Palaeontology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Core Facility Shared Services UBB
- External organisation(s)
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, AGH University of Science and Technology, Université de Genève
- Journal
- Chemosphere
- Volume
- 372
- No. of pages
- 8
- ISSN
- 0045-6535
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144080
- Publication date
- 03-2025
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106022 Microbiology, 106026 Ecosystem research
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Pollution, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 14 - Life Below Water
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/0dd971ca-78bc-4ed3-ae33-ee3675b71068