Abstract
The sorption of tributyltin (TBT) by phytoplankton cells was studied by exposing the marine microflagellated alga Pavlova lutheri grown in batch culture to TBT chloride concentrations ranging from 0.37 to 74 nM (0.1 to 21 μg l−1) for a 24-hour period. The phytotoxicity of TBT was indicated by a decrease in cell density at all TBT concentrations used. TBT was tightly bound to the surface cell and was only washed out by a strong acidic solution (pH⩽3) while inner cell-absorbed TBT was only recovered by means of an organic solvent. The sorption of TBT by P. lutheri occurred via two mechanisms: a passive ionic surface adsorption followed by a facilitated intracellular absorption. The coupling/uncoupling of these two mechanisms was dependent upon the contamination level used. The cell surface adsorption of TBT was best described by the Freundlich adsorption model whereas the obstruction of the facilitated absorption mechanism was apparently related to the toxic activity of TBT towards cell components. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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