Assessment of Heavy Metal Removal from Industrial Effluents by Spirogyra Species under Controlled Laboratory Conditions: A Case Study from Hayatabad Industrial State, Peshawar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64229/g4w7k810Keywords:
Spirogyra aequinotilalis, Spirogyra pratensis, Heavy metals, Wastewater treatment, BioremediationAbstract
Industrial wastewater often contains toxic heavy metals (HMs) such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), which pose serious risks to human health and the environment. This study evaluated the potential of two Spirogyra species, S. aequinotilalis and S. pratensis, for the removal of HMs from wastewater collected from the Hayatabad Industrial State (HIS), Peshawar, Pakistan, under controlled laboratory conditions. Batch experiments were conducted at varying metal concentrations (5-50 mg/L), pH levels (5-8), and contact times (0-120 minutes). The results demonstrated that S. aequinotilalis achieved maximum removal efficiencies of 82% for Pb, 76% for Cd, 69% for Cu, 64% for Zn, and 58% for As, while S. pratensis removed 78% of Pb, 71% of Cd, 65% of Cu, 60% of Zn, and 52% of As under optimal conditions (pH 7, 100 mg/L biomass, 90 minutes contact time). These findings highlight the efficient and low-cost potential of locally isolated Spirogyra species for HM remediation and provide insights for sustainable wastewater treatment in industrial areas.
References
[1]Basheer AA. Chemical chiral pollution: impact on the society and science and need of the regulations in the 21st century. Chirality, 2018, 30(4): 402-406. DOI: 10.1002/chir.22808
[2]Georgin J, Franco DSP, Meili L, Bonilla-Petriciolet A, Kurniawan TA, Imanova G, et al. Environmental remediation of the norfloxacin in water by adsorption: advances, current status and prospects. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2024, 324, 103096. DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103096
[3]Hussain MI, Khan ZI, Akhter P, Al-Hemaid FM, Al-Hashimi A, Elshikh MS, et al. Potential of organic amendments for heavy metal contamination in soil-coriander system: Environmental fate and associated ecological risk. Sustainability, 2022, 14(18), 11374. DOI: 10.3390/su141811374
[4]Xie P, Zahoor F, Iqbal SS, Ullah S, Noman M, Din ZU, et al. Elimination of toxic heavy metals from industrial polluted water by using hydrophytes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2022, 352, 131358. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131358
[5]Noman M, Haziq MA, Safi BU, Ullah S, Rukh G, Faiq ME, et al. Lead (II) adsorption from aqueous systems using visible light activated cobalt doped zinc oxide nanoparticles. Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, 2022, 17(3), 839-849. DOI: 10.15251/DJNB.2022.173.839
[6]Oros A. Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of heavy metals in marine fish: Ecological and ecosystem-level impacts. Journal of Xenobiotics, 2025, 15(2), 59. DOI: 10.3390/jox15020059
[7]Ali H, Khan E. Trophic transfer, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of non-essential hazardous heavy metals and metalloids in food chains/webs—Concepts and implications for wildlife and human health. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2019, 25(6), 1353-1376. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2018.1469398
[8]Ali I, Gupta VK, Aboul-Enein HY. Metal ion speciation and capillary electrophoresis: application in the new millennium. Electrophoresis, 2005, 26(21), 988-4002. DOI: 10.1002/elps.200500216
[9]Zhu M, Wang S, Kong X, Zheng W, Feng W, Zhang X, et al. Interaction of surface water and groundwater influenced by groundwater over-extraction, waste water discharge and water transfer in Xiong’an New Area, China. Water, 2019, 11(3), 539. DOI: 10.3390/w11030539
[10]Croll AB, Hosseini N, Bartlett MD. Switchable adhesives for multifunctional interfaces. Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019, 4(8), 1900193. DOI: 10.1002/admt.201900193
[11]Ding C, Chen J, Zhu F, Chai L, Lin Z, Zhang K, et al. Biological toxicity of heavy metal (loid) s in natural environments: From microbes to humans. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2022, 10, 920957. DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.920957
[12]Fenton K, Simske S, Luu J. Mitigation of chemical reporting liabilities through systematic modernization of chemical hazard and safety data management systems. ACS Omega, 2023, 8(5), 4928-4936. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07244
[13]Shaukat S, Hassani MA, Yadgari MY, Ullah S, Iqbal MS, Khan F, et al. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its application towards As (V) removal from aqueous systems. Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, 2022, 17(4), 1385-1398. DOI: 10.15251/DJNB.2022.174.1385
[14]Basheer AA. Advances in the smart materials applications in the aerospace industries. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 2020, 92(7), 1027-1035. DOI: 10.1108/AEAT-02-2020-0040
[15]Ali I, Babkin AV, Burakova IV, Burakov AE, Neskoromnaya EA, Tkachev AG, et al. Fast removal of samarium ions in water on highly efficient nanocomposite based graphene oxide modified with polyhydroquinone: Isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics and desorption. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2021, 329, 115584. DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.115584
[16]Ayele A, Haile S, Alemu D, Kamaraj M. Comparative utilization of dead and live fungal biomass for the removal of heavy metal: a concise review. The Scientific World Journal, 2021, 2021(1), 5588111. DOI: 10.1155/2021/5588111
[17]Kaur S, Roy A. Bioremediation of heavy metals from wastewater using nanomaterials. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2021, 23(7), 9617-9640. DOI: 10.1007/s10668-020-01078-1
[18]Li H, Watson J, Zhang Y, Lu H, Liu Z. Environment-enhancing process for algal wastewater treatment, heavy metal control and hydrothermal biofuel production: A critical review. Bioresource Technology, 2020, 298, 122421. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122421
[19]Farid N, Ullah A, Khan S, Butt S, Khan AZ, Afsheen Z, et al. Algae and hydrophytes as potential plants for bioremediation of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. Water, 2023, 15(12), 2142. DOI: 10.3390/w15122142
[20]Almeida Â, Cotas J, Pereira L, Carvalho P. Potential role of Spirogyra sp. and Chlorella sp. in bioremediation of mine drainage: a review. Phycology, 2023, 3(1), 186-201. DOI: 10.3390/phycology3010012
[21]Subramaniam MN, Goh PS, Lau WJ, Ismail AF. The roles of nanomaterials in conventional and emerging technologies for heavy metal removal: A state-of-the-art review. Nanomaterials, 2019, 9(4), 625. DOI: 10.3390/nano9040625
[22]Li L, Haziq MA, Ullah S, Stanikzai AG, Bibi SD, Haq TU, et al. Remediation of lead-contaminated water using green synthesized iron-oxide nanoparticles: Performance and mechanism. Air, Soil and Water Research, 2024, 17, 11786221241278517. DOI: 10.1177/11786221241278517
[23]Yadgari MY, Subat S, Rashid S, Ullah S, Li L, Hassani MA, et al. Toxic effects of arsenic and its adsorption through thiolated cobalt doped silver nanomaterials from water resources. Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, 2023, 18(4), 1339-1350. DOI: 10.15251/DJNB.2023.184.1339
[24]Rayu S, Karpouzas DG, Singh BK. Emerging technologies in bioremediation: constraints and opportunities. Biodegradation, 2012, 23(6), 917-926. DOI: 10.1007/s10532-012-9576-3
[25]Abd Elnabi MK, Elkaliny NE, Elyazied MM, Azab SH, Elkhalifa SA, Elmasry S, et al. Toxicity of heavy metals and recent advances in their removal: a review. Toxics, 2023, 11(7), 580. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070580
[26]Ankit, Bauddh K, Korstad J. Phycoremediation: Use of algae to sequester heavy metals. Hydrobiology, 2022, 1(3), 288-303. DOI: 10.3390/hydrobiology1030021
[27]Alabssawy AN, Hashem AH. Bioremediation of hazardous heavy metals by marine microorganisms: a recent review. Archives of Microbiology, 2024, 206(3), 103. DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03793-5
[28]Crini G, Lichtfouse E. Advantages and disadvantages of techniques used for wastewater treatment. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2019, 17(1), 145-155. DOI: 10.1007/s10311-018-0785-9
[29]Singh L, Pavankumar AR, Lakshmanan R, Rajarao GK. Effective removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous medium using alginate as biosorbent. Ecological Engineering, 2012, 38(1), 119-124. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.10.007
[30]Ilyas M, Ahmad W, Khan H, Yousaf S, Yasir M, Khan A. Environmental and health impacts of industrial wastewater effluents in Pakistan: a review. Reviews on Environmental Health, 2019, 34(2), 171-186. DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2018-0078
[31]Wang Y, Zhao H, Wang X, Chong J, Huo X, Guo M, et al. Transformation and detoxification of typical metallurgical hazardous waste into a resource: a review of the development of harmless treatment and utilization in China. Materials, 2024, 17(4), 931. DOI: 10.3390/ma17040931
[32]Tan KA, Wan Maznah WO, Morad N, Lalung J, Ismail N, Talebi A, et al. Advances in POME treatment methods: potentials of phycoremediation, with a focus on South East Asia. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2022, 19(8), 8113-8130. DOI: 10.1007/s13762-021-03436-6
[33]Taştan BE, Duygu E, Dönmez G. Boron bioremoval by a newly isolated Chlorella sp. and its stimulation by growth stimulators. Water Research, 2012, 46(1), 167-175. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.10.045
[34]Karna RR, Luxton T, Bronstein KE, Hoponick Redmon J, Scheckel KG. State of the science review: Potential for beneficial use of waste by-products for in situ remediation of metal-contaminated soil and sediment. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2017, 47(2), 65-129. DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2016.1275417
[35]Okereafor U, Makhatha M, Mekuto L, Uche-Okereafor N, Sebola T, Mavumengwana V. Toxic metal implications on agricultural soils, plants, animals, aquatic life and human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020, 17(7), 2204. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072204
[36]Ma Y, Oliveira RS, Freitas H, Zhang C. Biochemical and molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe-metal interactions: relevance for phytoremediation. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2016, 7, 918. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00918
[37]Deng L, Zhang Y, Qin J, Wang X, Zhu X. Biosorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions by nonliving green algae Cladophora albida. Minerals Engineering, 2009, 22(4), 372-377. DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2008.10.006
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rabia Tasleem (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
