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Influence of phosphate on toxicity and bioaccumulation of arsenic in a soil isolate of microalga Chlorella sp.

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Abstract

In this study, the toxicity, biotransformation and bioaccumulation of arsenite and arsenate in a soil microalga, Chlorella sp., were investigated using different phosphate levels. The results indicated that arsenate was highly toxic than arsenite to the alga, and the phosphate limitation in growth media greatly enhanced arsenate toxicity. The uptake of arsenate in algal cells was more than that of arsenite, and the predominant species in the growth media was arsenate after 8 days of exposure to arsenite or arsenate, indicating arsenite oxidation by this microalga. Arsenate reduction was also observed when the alga was incubated in a phosphate-limiting growth medium. Similar to the process of biotransformation, the alga accumulated more arsenic when it was exposed to arsenate and preferably more in a phosphate-limiting condition. Although phosphate significantly influences the biotransformation and bioaccumulation of arsenic, the oxidizing ability and higher accumulation capacity of this alga have great potential for its application in arsenic bioremediation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle, ATC Building, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Md Mezbaul Bahar, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

  2. Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, ATC Building, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Md Mezbaul Bahar, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

Authors
  1. Md Mezbaul Bahar
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  2. Mallavarapu Megharaj
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  3. Ravi Naidu
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Correspondence to Md Mezbaul Bahar.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Bahar, M.M., Megharaj, M. & Naidu, R. Influence of phosphate on toxicity and bioaccumulation of arsenic in a soil isolate of microalga Chlorella sp.. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 2663–2668 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5510-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5510-7

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