Potential bioremediation of lead (Pb) using marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata
Lud Waluyo, Wahyu Prihanta, Zubaidi Bachtiar and Tutut Indria Permana*
Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, East Java, Indonesia
*tutut.indria[at]umm.ac.id
Abstract
The lead (Pb) contamination occurred in waters brings detrimental effect to human-s life. As one of the most essential natural resources widely used, the waters exposure with lead harms human body system in term of increasing risk disease factors such as cancer, stroke, memory problems, as considerable as high blood pressure. One of the alternative solutions for this issue is utilizing microalgae as bioremediation agent. This study investigated the bioremediation potential of Pb using marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata. This comparative study employes five lead concentration waters i.e. 0.5; 0.7; 0.9; 1.1; and 1.3 ppm. The data gained was then analyzed by calculating the percentage efficiency of absorbed Pb by N.oculata. The results showed that within seven days culture, the highest efficiency occured in the treatment of 1.3 ppm water. Thus it can be concluded that N.oculata is able to be a bioremediation agent for Pb water contamination.
Keywords: bioremediation; lead contamination; microalgae; Nannochloropsis oculata
Topic: Botany