AMB Volume 42, Issue 1, 2026 Pages 144-151 https://doi.org/10.59393/amb26420115
Applicability of Mixed Culture Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. for Bioremediation of Copper and Manganese
Velichkova P.
In recent years, algae have been increasingly used to remove heavy metals from acidic mine drainage. In the present study, the biosorption and bioaccumulation of manganese and copper ions by a mixed Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. culture were investigated. The influence of 4 concentrations of heavy metals (20, 40, 80, and 100 mg/L) on microalgal growth and bioremediation was analyzed. The exponential growth phase was delayed by 7 days at 20 mg/L Mn compared to the control without heavy metals in the medium. In the remaining samples, no growth was observed until the 14th day, as high concentrations led to growth inhibition. The removal rate of Mn was between 74 and 90%, and that of Cu was 72-89% in the different variants. Their high biosorption at high concentrations of heavy metals is due to the large amount of dead biomass, which increases the contact surface. The method would be applicable for heavy metals from waters with a high content of copper and manganese removal and recovery.
Keywords: bioremediation, bioaccumulation, biosorption, microalgae, heavy metals
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