Citation:

Zafar, A., M. Javed, A. Hassan, Endalkac Sahle-Demessie, AND S. Harmon. Biodesalination using halophytic cyanobacterium Phormidium keutzingianum from brackish to the hypersaline water. CHEMOSPHERE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 307(4):136082, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136082

Impact/Purpose:

Biodesalination is an emerging field in which halophytic microorganisms such as eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and blue-green algae take up ions from salty water, including sodium and chloride ions. This technology is a low-cost and sustainable approach that uses natural-based biodesalination in which salinity can be removed from the brackish to hypersaline waters. However, separating biomass is an expensive technique, and molding the biodesalination technology as a single-stage process requires more innovative cultivation methods and separation of biomass.

Description:

The biodesalination potential at different levels of salinity of Phormidium keutzingianum (P. keutzingianum) was investigated. A wide range of salinity from brackish to hypersaline water was explored in this study to ensure the adaptability of P. keutzingianum in extreme stress conditions. Brackish to hypersaline salt solutions were tested at selected NaCl concentrations 10, 30, 50, and 70 g.L−1. Chloride, pH, nitrate, and phosphate were the main parameters measured throughout the duration of the experiment. Biomass growth estimation revealed that the studied strain is adaptable to all the salinities inoculated. During the first growth phase (till day 20), chloride ion was removed up to 43.52% and 45.69% in 10 and 30 g.L−1 of salinity, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry analysis performed on P. keutzingianum showed the presence of active functional groups at all salinity levels, which resulted in biosorption leading to the bioaccumulation process. Samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis supported with electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDS) showed NaCl on samples already on day 0. This ensures the occurrence of the biosorption process.

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