Abstract
Filamentous macroscopic green algae are observed in acidic (pH 4.47–5.75) and metal-enriched discharges from the Malanjkhand copper mine (India), which is the largest one in Asia. The genuses of the algae are identified as Microspora and Ulothrix. The Microspora occurs as the most dominant one and thrives in wide range of pH. The pH of the water and precipitation of the secondary metal-(oxy)hydroxides in the bottom sediment are found to be the controlling factors for the occurrence and growth of algal biomass. The concentration of Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn in mine discharges has been reduced by many folds in downstream of the algal site. The algal biomass contains very high concentration of metals, particularly Fe and Cu; the order of the metal content is Fe > Cu > Zn > Ni > Pb. This study also demonstrates the influence of pH on distribution of metals in algae. The concentration of Fe and Cu ranges from 0.95 to 9.14% and 1.74 to 3.66%, respectively. Based on this study, it is found that Microspora can be used as bioindicator of acid mine drainage (AMD) impact around copper mine. Due to the exceptionally high metal accumulation potential, Microspora-dominated algal biomass can be used for bioremediation of the AMD and recovery of Cu in particular.
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