resumo
Metal uptake from contaminated waters by living Ulva lactuca was studied during 6 days, under different relevant contamination scenarios. In mono-metallic solutions, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mu g L-1 for Hg, 10-200 mu g L-1 for Cd, and 50-1000 mu g L-1 for Pb, macroalgae (500 mg L-1, d.w.) were able to remove, in most cases 93-99% of metal, allowing to achieve water quality criteria regarding both surface and drinking waters. In multi-metallic solutions, comprising simultaneously the three metals, living macroalgae still performed well, with Hg removal (c.a. 99%) not being significantly affected by the presence of Cd and Pb, even when those metals were in higher concentrations. Removal efficiencies for Cd and Pb varied between 57 and 96%, and 34-97%, respectively, revealing an affinity of U. lactuca toward metals: Hg > Cd > Pb. Chemical quantification in macroalgae, after bioaccumulation assays demonstrated that all Cd and Hg removed from solution was really bound in macroalgae biomass, while only half of Pb showed to be sorbed on the biomass. Overall, U. lactuca accumulated up to 209 mu g g(-1) of Hg, up to 347 mu g g(-1) of Cd and up to 1641 mu g g(-1) of Pb, which correspond to bioconcentration factors ranging from 500 to 2200, in a dose-dependent accumulation. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich models showed a good performance in describing the kinetics of bioaccumulation, in the whole period of time. In the range of experimental conditions used, no mortality was observed and U. lactuca relative growth rate was not significantly affected by the presence of metals. Results represent an important contribution for developing a macroalgae-based biotechnology, applied for contaminated saline water remediation, more "green" and cost-effective than conventional treatment methods. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
palavras-chave
HEAVY-METALS; MARINE MACROALGAE; SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE; TRACE-METALS; BIOSORPTION; ACCUMULATION; BIOMASS; ALGAE; CONTAMINATION; KINETICS
categoria
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
autores
Henriques, B; Rocha, LS; Lopes, CB; Figueira, P; Duarte, AC; Vale, C; Pardal, MA; Pereira, E
nossos autores
Cláudia Batista Lopes
Investigador Auxiliar
Luciana Sarabando da Rocha
Bolseiro de pós-Doutoramento
Paula Figueira
Técnico de Laboratórioagradecimentos
We would like to thank University of Aveiro, FCT/MEC for the financial support to CESAM, CICECO, CEF and CIIMAR (UID/AMB/50017/2013; UlD/CTM/50011/2013; UID/Multi/04423/2013; UID/BIA/04004/2013) through national funds and, where applicable, co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. We also would like to thank the National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through a FCT project (PTDC/MAR-BIO/3533/2012), postdoctoral grants to B. Henriques, Luciana S. Rocha and C. B. Lopes (SFRH/BPD/112576/2015; SFRH/BPD/109362/2015; SFRH/BPD/99453/2014, respectively).