PHYCOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF NOSTOC GENUS CYANOBACTERIA FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM CONTAMINATED WATERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/biosystems2026.01.142Keywords:
phycoremediation, cyanobacteria, Nostoc, exopolysaccharides, biosorption, bioaccumulation, heavy metals, water purification, bioremediationAbstract
Heavy metal contamination of aquatic ecosystems is one of the most pressing environmental problems of today due to their toxicity, persistence in the environment, and ability to bioaccumulate within trophic chains. Therefore, biotechnological approaches to water purification, particularly phycoremediation using cyanobacteria, have attracted considerable attention. The aim of this study was to summarize current data on the application of biomass of Nostoc genus cyanobacteria for the removal of heavy metals from aquatic environments, to analyze the role of exopolysaccharides in biosorption and bioaccumulation processes, and to evaluate the prospects for practical application of these organisms in bioremediation technologies.
It has been shown that representatives of the genus Nostoc exhibit high resistance to toxic metal effects due to their ability to synthesize significant amounts of exopolysaccharides, which form a protective matrix around cells and ensure efficient binding of metal ions. Exopolysaccharides are complex heteropolymers composed of various monosaccharides, uronic acids, and functional groups, including carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphate, and sulfate residues. These components determine the high sorption capacity of cyanobacterial biomass towards lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium, and other metals.
The main mechanisms of metal removal from aquatic environments are discussed, with biosorption and bioaccumulation being the predominant processes. Biosorption is a rapid, metabolically independent process occurring on the cell surface and can be performed by both living and non-living biomass. In contrast, bioaccumulation is an energy-dependent process associated with metal transport into the cell and subsequent detoxification involving metallothioneins, antioxidant systems, and intracellular sequestration mechanisms. The influence of key environmental factors affecting the efficiency of these processes, including pH, temperature, metal concentration, salinity, and biomass characteristics, is analyzed.
The reviewed literature data demonstrate the high efficiency of living, immobilized, and chemically modified Nostoc biomass in removing heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater. It has been established that the use of cyanobacteria combines environmental safety, low energy requirements, and the possibility of further utilization of the obtained biomass for biofuel and biopolymer production. It is concluded that cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc are promising agents for phycoremediation, and further research should focus on optimizing cultivation conditions, enhancing biomass sorption capacity, and scaling up technologies for industrial implementation.
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