Uptake of Metals by Live Green Macroalgae <i>Ulva reticulata</i> in Industrial Wastewater of Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the ability of <em>Ulva reticulata </em>(Chlorophyta) to remove Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, M n, M g, Pb, V, and Zn from industrial wastewater. A 24 h experiment was performed under laboratory and <em>in situ </em>conditions, which were set up in two places: (1) the industrial area in Bayan Lepas and (2) the coastal area close to Jerejak Island. The initial amounts of metals in <em>U. reticulata </em>were ranked as follows: M g > Fe > Zn > M n > Ni > Cu > Cr > Co > Cd = Pb > V. However, after exposure to the experimental conditions for 24 h, the sequence amounts of the metals in the tissue changed. Fe showed the highest uptake <em>in situ </em>with a maximum uptake of 869.0 ± 84.1 µg g−1 dw. M g demonstrated the maximum uptake in the laboratory, which was 487.8 ± 130 µg g−1 dw. Cd presented the lowest uptake under both <em>in situ </em>and laboratory conditions, which was 0.04 ± 0.027 µg g−1 dw. The uptake capability of <em>U. reticulata </em>depended on the metal concentration in water and under experimental conditions. Overall, this study revealed that <em>U. reticulata </em>can improve the quality of water discharged from industrial areas.