Dielectrophoresis-assisted removal of Cd and Cu heavy metal ions by using Chlorella microalgae

Kai Zhao; Xun Zhao; Tianbo Gao; Xuan Li; Guanqi Wang; Xinxiang Pan; Junsheng Wang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122110

Dielectrophoresis-assisted removal of Cd and Cu heavy metal ions by using Chlorella microalgae

Environ Pollut. 2023 Oct 1:334:122110. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122110. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Authors

Kai Zhao¹, Xun Zhao¹, Tianbo Gao¹, Xuan Li¹, Guanqi Wang¹, Xinxiang Pan², Junsheng Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, Dalian Maritime University, 116026 Dalian, China; Department of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, Dalian, China.
² Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, Dalian Maritime University, 116026 Dalian, China; Department of Maritime, Guangdong Ocean University, 524000, Zhanjiang, China.
³ Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, Dalian Maritime University, 116026 Dalian, China; Department of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, Dalian, China. Electronic address: wangjsh@dlmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37390915
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122110

Abstract

A novel dielectrophoresis (DEP)-assisted device for the bioremediation of heavy metal ions by using Chlorella microalgae is presented in this paper. To generate the DEP forces, pairs of electrode mesh were inserted in the DEP-assisted device. By applying DC electric field via the electrodes, the inhomogeneous electric field gradient is induced and the strongest non-uniform electric field exists near the mesh cross-corner. After the adsorption of Cd and Cu heavy metal ions by Chlorella, the Chlorella chain were trapped along the vicinity of the electrode mesh. Then, the effects of Chlorella concentration on the adsorption of heavy metal ions, and the applied voltage and electrode mesh size on the removal of Chlorella are conducted. In the co-existing Cd and Cu solutions, the individual adsorption ratio of Cd and Cu reaches as high as approximately 96% and 98%, respectively, showing excellent bioremediation capability of multiple heavy metal ions in wastewater. By adjusting the applied electric voltage and the mesh size, the Chlorella adsorbed with Cd and Cu are captured by negative DC-DEP effects and the removal ratio of Chlorella reach an average of 97%, providing a method for the removal of multiple heavy metal ions in wastewater by using Chlorella microalgae.

Keywords: Bioremediation; Chlorella chain; Dielectrophoretic trapping; Heavy metal ions; Inhomogeneous electric field.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Cadmium / analysis
Chlorella*
Ions / analysis
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Microalgae*
Wastewater
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Cadmium
Wastewater
Metals, Heavy
Ions
Water Pollutants, Chemical