Cell surface area as a major parameter in the uptake of cadmium by unicellular green microalgae

Abstract

The mathematical model previously developed in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University for the metal uptake by living algal cells has been revised to take into account the actual surface area through which transfer occurs. Cadmium uptake data obtained using the three algal species Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were able to be fitted satisfactorily by the revised model.