Evaluación de capacidad de remoción de metales pesados por parte de microalga (Chlorella sp.) y totora (Scirpus californicus) para su uso en humedales artificiales

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the removal capacity of heavy metals by the microalgae Chlorella sp. and totora Scirpus californicus for use in artificial wetlands. Where the Scirpus californicus species were extracted from their natural environment of development, which were adapted to a new development environment of known composition; which were subsequently subjected to the removal of the heavy metal lead from the production of synthetic water (lead nitrate solution) at concentrations of 2ppm, 5ppm and 10ppm. Similarly, it was done with the species Chlorella sp. which was subjected to cell growth up to a concentration of 6.24x10e6 cells/ml; later it was immobilized in sodium alginate beads, to be used in the cadmium removal tests at concentrations of 2ppm, 5ppm and 10ppm; where it was observed that the species used were tolerant to the presence of the selected heavy metals as they did not present qualitative deficiencies. Subsequently, the samples obtained from the tests were subjected to treatment to be able to read them correctly in the atomic absorption spectrophotometry equipment, where considerably effective removal percentages were obtained in the test of 10 ppm of lead for the species Scirpus californicus, removing 74.20% of the heavy metal from the medium. While for the species Chlorella sp. significant removal values were obtained by removing more than 70% of the heavy metal in the three concentrations used in the tests. From which, it was concluded that the plant species Scirpus californicus and the microalgae Chlorella sp. They can be considered for use in artificial wetlands as heavy metal purifying agents, recommending an adaptation treatment of the Scirpus californicus species, and maintaining a clean and disinfected environment to avoid contamination by the microalgae Chlorella sp.