Volume 6, Number 1, p.p. 9-14
Effect of adsorption and accumulation of Cd(II) by the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis on the cell growth, viability and physical characteristics
A. Khizanishvili, A. Belokobyl’skii, E. Ginturi, N. Kuchava, A. Rcheulishvili and L. Mosulishvili
E. Andronikashvili Institute of Physics, Georgian Academy of Sciences, 6 Tamarashvili Street, Tbilisi, Georgia
The accumulation and adsorption processes of Cd(II) ions by S. platensis cells have been studied. Low concentrations of Cd(II) in the nutrient (0.1 and 1.0 mg/L) stimulated the growth of the S. platensis biomass, but a cadmium concentration of 80 mg/L turned out to be lethal after two hours of cultivation. Although Cd(II) is accumulated by cells in only small amounts, its effect is quite significant. The adsorption of Cd(II) ions by the S. platensis biomass occurs during the first 10–15 min of cultivation of the alga.
Keywords: accumulation, adsorption, Cd(II), Spirulina platensis