Growth and heavy metals removal efficiency of Nostoc muscorum and Anabaena subcylindrica in sewage and industrial wastewater effluents

The growth of Nostoc muscorum and Anabaena subcylindrica in sterilized sewage wastewater and N. muscorum in sterilized wastewater of El-Soda Company was higher than those grown in Allen synthetic medium. Whereas, the growth of A. subcylindrica in El-Soda Company sterilized wastewater and N. muscorum as well as A. subcylindrica grown in Verta Company sterilized wastewater was slightly lower than that grown in the standard synthetic medium. The contents of chlorophyll a, carotenoids and protein of N. muscorum and A. subcylindrica grown in sterilized sewage wastewater were higher than those grown in the standard medium. Similarly, N. muscorum and the bio-mixture of N. muscorum and A. subcylindrica grown in the sterilized wastewater of El-Soda Company showed high pigments and protein contents more than those reared in Allen medium. On the other hand, the bio-mixture of N. muscorum and A. subcylindrica grown in the sterilized sewage wastewater, A. subcylindrica grown in El-Soda Company and Verta Company sterilized wastewater showed lower contents of pigments and protein compared to synthetic medium. Heavy metals, copper, cobalt, lead and manganese were removed by 12.5-81.8, 11.8-33.7, 26.4-100 and 32.7-100%, respectively, from wastewater by using cyanobacterial cultures. The metal sorption efficiency depended on the type of biosorbent, the physiological state of the cells, availability of heavy metal, concentration of heavy metal and chemical composition of wastewater. It was observed also that the single cultures in most cases was better than the mixed cultures in heavy metal removal, this may be due to the cyanobacterial competition for nutrients in mixed cultures. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.