CONCENTRATION OF SELECTED TRACE METALS BY MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON

ARTHUR V STIFFEY, Fordham University

Abstract

Cultures of Platymonas subcordiformas, Nitzschia closterum and Dunaliella sp. grown in a chemically defined artificial sea water medium were exposed to two levels of cadmium, iron, lead and nickel for periods of 2, 8, 16 and 48 hours. Metals were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Cadmium uptake was low with all genera tested. Uptake was of the order Nitzschia > Platymonas > Dunaliella sp. Little adsorption to the culture vessels was detected at the 48th hour reaction time. Iron uptake was rapid and almost complete within 8 hours. Uptake patterns were similar in all genera. Slight adsorption of iron to culture vessels was detected at the 48th hour reaction time. Lead uptake was rapid and reached maximum uptake at 8 hours diminishing at 48 hours. Significant adsorption of lead to culture vessels was detected at the 16th hour reaction time. Uptake was Nitzschia > Dunaliella sp. > Platymonas. Little adsorption to culture vessel walls was detected at the 48th hour reaction time. Nickel uptake was quite low with all genera tested. Uptake was of the order Nitzschia > Platymonas > Dunaliella sp. Little adsorption to the culture vessels was detected at the 48th hour reaction time.

Subject Area

Environmental science

Recommended Citation

STIFFEY, ARTHUR V, "CONCENTRATION OF SELECTED TRACE METALS BY MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON" (1981). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8111320.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8111320

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