Abstract:
In this study, the growth response of Anabaena flos-aquae, which is a filamentous, heterocystous blue-green alga, towards heavy metals i s described. The experiments were long term, batch type experiments, and algae were incubated in media containing Hg(I1) as mercuric chloride (HgC12) ,Cd(II) as cadmium chloride (CdC12), Se(1V) as sodium seleni te (Na2Se03), Ni (11) as nickel chloride (NiCI2.6H20) ,Cr(VI) as potassium chromate(K2Cr04) and As(V) as sodium arsenate (Na2HAs04). 7H20) in solution. Growth i s measured spectrophotometrical ly and optical density is used in the expression of results. In all cases, metals were found to be inhibitory on the growth, the degree of inhibition depending upon the type of the metal ion and the concentration in the medium. I t was found that in media contaminated with 10,20 ppm selenium and 0.2 ppm nickel, the growth of cells failed complelety.
