Abstract
Aqueous effluents from a lead mining and milling operation located in southeastern Missouri, USA, caused a degradation of stream quality despite treatment by a large tailings pond. The receiving stream was choked with algal mats which accumulated unexpectedly large amounts of manganese, lead and zinc. A wastewater treatment system was designed to utilize algae and benthic macrophytes to remove metals from the tailings pond effluent. The system has proved successful and water quality in the receiving stream has been improved to drinking water standards.
Experiments were conducted to understand more fully the phenomenon of heavy metal accumulation by algae. Radionuclides (210Pb,203Hg,65Zn,109Cd) were used in conjunction with commercially available microculture apparatus to screen several species of algae for heavy metal accumulation. It was found that all species of algae studied concentrated mercury, green algae were more efficient accumulators of cadmium than blue-green algae, one alga (Chlamydomonas) proved best at removing lead from solution and no alga studied removed zinc.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Jennet, J.C. & Wixsons, B.G. New Lead Belt: Aquatic metal pathways control. In:Proc. The International Conference on Heavy Metails in the Environment, Toronto, Canada, 1975, 247–255.
Boggess, W.R. & Wixsons, B.G. Ed.,Lead in the Environment. National Science Foundation, Washington D.C., U.S.A., NSF/RA-770214, 1977.
Wixson, B.G., Ed.Missouri Lead Study. National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., 1977, 179–399.
Ernst, W.J.Biological treatment of wastewaters from lead-zinc mining/milling operation. M.S. Thesis, University of MissouriRolla, 1976.
Jennet, J.C. & Wixson, B.G. Industrial treatment of heavy metals to protect aquatic systems in the New Lead Belt area. In:Proc. 30th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference, 1975, 1173–1180.
Jennett, J.C. & Hardy, M.G. The impact of lead mining and milling operations on stream water quality in Southeast Missouri. In:Proc. 2nd NSF-RANN Trace Contaminants Conference, Asilomar, California, 1975, 172.
Ryck, F.R. & Whitely, J.R. State of the Lead Mining District of Missouri. In:Proc. 29th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference, 1974, 857–864.
Jennett, J.C. & Callier, A.J. Trace organic emissions from lead mining-milling operations.Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 49, 1977, 469–488.
Darley, W.M. & Volcani, B.E. Synchronized cultures: Diatoms,Methods in Enzymology, A.SA. San Pietro, Academic Press, XXIII, Part A, NY, 1971.
Starr, R.C. The culture collection of algae at Indiana University.American Journal of Botany, 51, 1964, 1013–1144.
Hirschberg, H., Skane, H. & Torsby, E. Cell mediated lympholysis: CML. A microplate technique requiring few target cells and employing a new method of supernatant collection.Journal of Immunological Methods, 16, 1977, 131–141.
Hassett, J.M.Heavy metal accumulation by algae. M.S. Thesis, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, 1979.
Jennett, J.C., Smith, J.E. & Hassett, J.M. Removal of heavy metal trace elements from water by algae: Quantitative screening methods for selecting efficient organisms. In:Proc. 11th Conference on Trace Substances and Environmental Health, University of MissouriColumbia, 1977.
Steel, R.G. & Torrie, J.H.Principles and Procedures in Statistics, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1960, 111–114.
Findenegg, G.R., Pashinger, H. & Broda, E. Untersuchung der lichtabhangigkeit der aufnahme von rubidium, zink, kobalt, blei und cer durchChlorella nach einer flussmethode.Planta (Berl)99, 1971, 163–173.
Kerfoot, W.B. & Jacobs, S.A. Cadmium accrual and combined wastewater treatment-aquaculture systems.Environmental Science and Technology, 10, 1976, 662–667.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jennett, J.C., Hassett, J.M. & Smith, J.E. The use of algae to control heavy metals in the environment. Minerals and the Environment 2, 26–31 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02091034
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02091034