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Biological Methods of Wastewater Treatment

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Cyanobacteria for Bioremediation of Wastewaters

Abstract

This chapter highlights the pros of biological purification methods, such as the possibility to be carried out in situ at the contaminated site, cost efficiency, the ability to regenerate the sorbent, as well as an overall environment friendly character. Biosorption and bioaccumulation processes rely on natural metabolic processes when toxic ions are taken up instead of essential ions. The mechanisms that ensure biosorption, physical adsorbtion, ion exchange, formation of metal complex compounds and precipitation are analyzed further in this chapter. Data demonstrating the biosorbtion ability of cyanobacteria (Nostoc muscorum, Spirulina platensis and Aphanothece flocculosa) towards certain metal ions (Cu2+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Cr6+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Fe3+) are also detailed. As the bioaccumulation mechanisms reduction, chelation and precipitation are described. Cyanobacteria are ideal biosorbents and bioaccumulators because of their omnipresence in water and soil ecosystems and flexible metabolism. The chapter contains numerous examples of the use of cyanobacteria as detoxifying agents, with major emphasis placed upon two genera – Arthrospira (Spirulina) and Nostoc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the Academy of Science of Moldova, 1, Academiei Str., 2028, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

    Liliana Cepoi

  2. Phycobiotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 1, Academiei str., Chisinau, MD-2028, Republic of Moldova

    Ludmila Rudi, Tatiana Chiriac, Svetlana Codreanu & Anna Valuţa

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  1. Liliana Cepoi
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  2. Ludmila Rudi
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  3. Tatiana Chiriac
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  4. Svetlana Codreanu
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  5. Anna Valuţa
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Correspondence to Liliana Cepoi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia

    Inga Zinicovscaia

  2. Institute of Microbiology &Biotechnology, Chisinau, Moldova

    Liliana Cepoi

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Cepoi, L., Rudi, L., Chiriac, T., Codreanu, S., Valuţa, A. (2016). Biological Methods of Wastewater Treatment. In: Zinicovscaia, I., Cepoi, L. (eds) Cyanobacteria for Bioremediation of Wastewaters. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26751-7_5

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