Abstract:
Background: The disturbance of aquatic ecosystems provoked by heavy metals pollution from
industrial and domestic sources, has as consequence the loss of biological diversity, as well as
increased bioaccumulation and magnification of toxicants in the food chain. Aim: the aim of the
present study was to evaluate the efficiency of an isolated blue-green alga (cyanobacterium)
Phormidium tenue in removal of iron (Fe3+) from aqueous solutions. Methods: Experiment study
using a wide concentrations range of metal solutions on the growth of the algal cultures was
conducted. Chlorophyll (a), in addition to fresh weight of the isolated alga were estimated for various
concentrations of the selected heavy metal (Fe3+) throughout the experimental period. Results: The
data show that the lower doses of the tested metal had stimulatory effect on biomass yield of
Phormidium tenue, whereas the higher concentrations exhibited an inhibitory effects, depending on the
metal concentration, exposure time, alga sensitivity,..etc. Phormidium tenue recorded 80% removal
efficiency for Fe3+. So, the studied alga offer a good system for bioaccumulation of the tested heavy
metal. The morphological and anatomical changes in treated alga by heavy metal were studied by SEM
& TM). These examinations showed some alterations in algal form and cellular components for tested
alga. Conclusion: The results showed that Phormidium sp. can be used as a potential bioaccumulator
for Fe3+ removal process .
