The removal of ρ-chlorophenol in aqueous cultures with free and alginate-immobilized cells of the microalga Tetraselmis suecica

The present study aimed at evaluating the ability of some isolated cyanobacterial and microalgal strains for the removal of rho-chlorophenol (rho-CP), an environmentally harmful contaminant. To identify the most efficient species, a screening program was carried out using 15 microalgal and cyanobacterial strains. Among them, Tetraselmis suecica was able to remove 67 % of the rho-chlorophenol at an initial concentration of 20 mg L-1 from the medium within a 10-day period. The efficacy of the process was dependent on the rho-chlorophenol concentration. At concentrations above 60 mg L-1 of the pollutant, no removal was observed due to the inhibitory effect of rho-chlorophenol on the T. suecica cells. The effect of cell immobilization in alginate beads on T. suecica removal capacity was also examined. Using this technique, the removal efficacy for the initial rho-CP concentration of 20 mg L-1 increased up to 94 %.