Inhibition of growth of freshwater microalgae by long-chained aliphatic amines employed in solvent extraction processes

Abstract

The influence on algal growth by six long-chained aliphatic amines, used in industrial solvent extraction processes, was investigated by a conventional algal assay and, in addition, a simple assay where algae were grown in liquid medium in 250 μl cultures on microtitration plates. Loss of solvent extractants from processes to ambient water represent a potential environmental problem. The primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines (with one exception) had EC50-values based on growth rate (ECr) or algal biomass (ECb) at 0.01–0.3 mg/L (20–800 nM). This makes long-chained aliphatic amines about a thousand times more toxic than short-chained amines—on a molar basis. The difference in toxicity was interpreted as being due to different modes of action between the two groups of amines. The diatomAsterionella formosa and the blue-green algaAnabaena flos-aquae were more sensitive to the amines than the green-algaeSelen-astrum capricornutum, Monoraphidium pusillum orChlorella emersonii. The maximum ECmax/ECmin ratio recorded was 19.5, for the primary amine.Anabaena flos-aquae was more sensitive by a factor 2–4 when grown under nitrogen fixation conditions than when supplied with combined nitrogen. Compared to other aquatic organisms, the algae show a particular sensitivity to amines. The microtitration test system was less sensitive than the flask test system. The low sensitivity of the microtitration test system is not an inherent property, but due to the use of an insensitive technique (visual inspection) for detection of algal biomass. The ECr50 and ECb50-values in the flask test system were both heavily time-dependent.