ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Cd, As, Cu, and Zn Transfer through Dry to
Rehydrated Biomass of Spirulina Platensis from Wastewater
Anwar Ahmad, Rumana Ghufran, Zularisam A. Wahid
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Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang (UMP),
Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2010;19(5):887-893
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ABSTRACT
Phytoremediation of Cd, As, Cu, and Zn by Spirulina Platensis is one of the most cost-effective
approaches and environmental friendly technologies used to remediate contaminants from contaminated
water. The removal rates of Cd, As, Cu, and Zn in the field experiment were 14.95, 9.45, 35.55, and 73.95
μg/g/d, respectively. The highest concentrations of these metals accumulated in S. Platensis after 90 d of the
laboratory/field collected samples were 58.9/98.68, 29.86/47.98, 43.28/235.86, and 249.67/390.65 μg/g dry
wt., respectively, over the experiment. Only 55% Cd, 35% As, 85% Cu, and 95% of Zn removed from the
water were used by S. Platensis. The bioconcentration factors were recorded for the metals in field/laboratory:
for Cd (BCF=90/536), As (BCF=135/2,155), Cu (BCF=34,200/62,300) and Zn (BCF=32,500/95,300). The
data obtained suggest that cyanobacterium S. Platensis has promising potential and can be used in a synergistic
way to remediate wastewater polluted by Cd, As, Cu, and Zn.