Growth and uptake kinetics of nitrate and phosphate by benthic microalgae for phytoremediation of eutrophic coastal sediments

In the present study, the effect of monochromatic light (blue, yellow and red) and mixed wavelength on the nutrient uptake and growth kinetics of benthic microalgae Achnanthes sp., Amphora sp., Navicula sp. and Nitzschia sp. were investigated. The maximum uptake rate (ρmax) for nitrate and phosphate obtained by short-term experiments were high in the order of blue, mixed, red, yellow wavelength, and among the 4 benthic microalgae, Nitzschia sp. was the highest ρmax. The half-saturation constant (Ks) was higher than other taxon. The specific maximum growth rate ( μ max ′ ) and minimum cell quota (q0) for the nitrogen and phosphorus-limited condition, Nitzschia sp. showed the highest μ max ′ and q0 values among the 4 benthic microalgae. These results suggest that the benthic microalgae are adapted to high nutrient concentration. In particular, Nitzschia sp., which have a higher capability of storage and uptake, may be a useful species for phytoremediation.