The Cumulation of Toxic Metals on Alga

Abstract

Abstract The cumulation of zinc, cadmium, mercury(II), chromium(III)(VI), arsenic(III)(V), methylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid on alga Chlorella kessleri has been radiometrically investigated in the pH range from 4 to 10.5. It has been found that algal cells strongly cumulate hydrogen ions and change by this manner the initial pH-value. The cumulation factor of zinc and cadmium increases with the increase of equilibrium pH whereas the cumulation of other species studied does not depend on pH in a certain pH-region. In neutral medium the cumulation factor decreases in the order: chromium(III), mercury(II), zinc, cadmium, arsenic(V), methylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid. General conclusions concerning the influence of different factors on the cumulation of toxic metals on alga are included.