Effect of copper and cadmium on carbon assimilation and uptake of metals by algae

Two species of blue green algae Spirulina platensis and Anacystis nidulans grown in artificial aqueous media were treated with Cu and Cd in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 ppm to study carbon assimilation and Chlorophyll (Chl) A content. The species were treated with concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 ppm to study the uptake of metals with exposure time. Carbon assimilation and Chl A content showed responses proportional to the concentration in the general form y = K + n ln C, where C is the concentration of metal in ppm, while in case of uptake the relation was y = KC”; (where C is the molar concentration x 10‐6 of the metal). The n values in case of uptake was found to be < 1 indicating a non‐Langmuir type of sorption. The concentration factors of metals decreased with metal concentration in the medium.