Hydrology: Current Research

Bioremediation of Tannery Effluents by Filamentous Cyanobacteria Anabaena Flos-Aquae West

Abstract

Kannan V, Vijayasanthi M and Rajmohan N

Heavy metal pollution of ground and surface waters by industrial effluents has become a serious threat to the environment especially in developing countries. Though many conventional physicochemical methods are currently being practiced, biotechnological methods are becoming attractive alternatives, as they are economical and eco-friendly. In this study, the search for innovative and eco-friendly biotechnologies to remove toxicants from effluents has focused attention on the detoxification capacity of a variety of microbe\'s especially cyanobacteria. The treated effluents from tannery industry were collected and added to the cyanobacterial growth medium in various proportions. The photosynthetic pigments and nitrogen status of Anabaena flos-aquae were analysed before and after the treatment with effluent. The present investigations showed that Anabaena flos-aquae can serve as the potential bioremedial organism for industrial pollution.