Cyanobacteria Calothrix potential in Ni biosorption and physiological responses

Heavy metals pollution, especially heavy metals, is one of the major environmental problems. These pollutants involve soil, water and related ecosystems and cause problems for the flora and even humans. Microalgae have many features, which make them ideal candidates for elimination of petroleum pollution and reduction of various heavy metals contaminations. This study was carried out using Calothrix sp., which isolated from polluted areas with the aim of investigating the reduction of nickel as well as studying some physiological behaviors of microalgae. Experiments design was done with the Design Expert software, which considered factors like PH (pH4-9), nickel concentration (5-100 mg/L) and time (30-120 min). The results showed that at pH8 with 80.74 mg/L nickel concentration and 48.24 min was observed the highest nickel uptake (69%). Treatment of algal biomass with different chemical and physical factors in various forms, such as immobilization or use of its metabolites could improve and facilitate the absorption process and create the potential for using these microalgae in subsequent purification systems.