PHYCOREMEDIATION OF MANGANESE BY Spirogyra AND Richterella SPECIES ISOLATED FROM POND

Heavy metals are non degradable pollutants and must be removed or reduced to acceptable limits before discharging into the environment to avoid threats to living organisms. This study was carried out to assess Manganese removal efficiency of Richterella and Spirogyra species isolated from ponds. The Manganese removal efficiency of the two algae were investigated for the period of 28 days at room temperature (28±2ºC) and regular light. The percentage Manganese removal on day 28 by Richterella specie was 90.3% and 87.1% by Spirogyra species. The optimum phycoremediation pH was 9 which recorded the same value of Manganese removal as above. The rate of removal of Manganese on day 14 by Richterella species was 89.4% and 86.1% by Spirogyra specie. Richterella and Spirogyra species were found to be effective in Manganese removal but Richterella species was more effective. Therefore the use of Richterella species for phycoremediation of Manganese should be encouraged.