Removal of tributyltin (TBT) from wastewater by microalgae

N. F.Y. Tam, A. Chong, Y. S. Wong

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The biosorption and biodegradation of tributyltin (TBT) by free cells of a resistant microalgal species, Chlorella sorokiniana at two different densities, 1×106 cells ml-1 (low) and 1 × 107 (high) were investigated. TBT in contaminated water was continuously removed by microalgal cells and reached a 54% and 74% removal at the end of 14 days treatment in low and high density cultures, respectively. The pattern of TBT removal in both densities was similar: with the decreases of TBT in water, TBT uptake by algal cells increased, reached a peak and declined to low levels towards the end of the treatment period. In the high density culture, total amounts of TBT uptake, including the adsorption on cell surface and absorption inside the cells, increased from 109 to 159μg TBT+from days 1 to 7, then declined to 95μg TBT+ at day 14. The proportions of TBT adsorbed on the cell surface decreased while that in the intracellular fraction increased with time, suggesting that the adsorbed TBT moved gradually into the cells for stepwise debutylation. The two degradation products, DBT (dibutyltin) and MBT (monbutyltin), started to appear in the intracellular fraction from day 3 and day 7onwards in high and low density cultures, respectively, with more MBT than that of DBT. These results indicate that C. sorokiniana was not only capable of removing TBT from contaminated water, TBT was absorbed and degraded into DBT which was then rapidly metabolized to MBT by intracellular enzymes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWater Pollution VII
Subtitle of host publicationModelling, Measuring and Prediction
EditorsC.A. Brebbia, C.A. Brebbia, D. Almorza, D. Sales
Pages261-271
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes
EventSeventh International Conference on Modelling Measuring and Prediction of Water Pollution: Water Pollution VII - Cadiz, Spain
Duration: 18 Jun 200320 Jun 2003

Publication series

NameProgress in Water Resources
Volume9

Conference

ConferenceSeventh International Conference on Modelling Measuring and Prediction of Water Pollution: Water Pollution VII
Country/TerritorySpain
CityCadiz
Period18/06/0320/06/03

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