The Mathematical Biology of Diatoms

14Coscinodiscus wailesii as Biogenic Charge-Based Sensors for Heavy Metal Ion Contamination Detection

Rajeshwari Taruvai Kalyana Kumar, Diem-Thuy Le, Antra Ganguly and Shalini Prasad*

Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA

Abstract

The potential of marine diatoms as a naturally abundant ion absorbent present in the environment as a water quality indicator was investigated in this study. The effect of ion-based surface charge characterization using heavy metals on diatoms has been described in detail in this work. Cationic effect (lead) and anionic effect (arsenic) heavy metals were studied on Coscinodiscus wailesii diatoms to understand the effect of sorption using infrared characterization and shift in zeta potential. The role of water pH was investigated and transient measurements of sorption behavior over 24 hours and 1 week are presented. Additional data based on morphological changes of diatoms is presented to provide a unique understanding of heavy metal effects on marine diatoms and their use as water quality indicators. Data reveal information on intricate changes in the surface charge accumulation and potential shift at the solid-liquid interface. Zeta potential on diatom samples can provide useful information on the environmental factors affecting the growth and biological mechanism which can provide basic knowledge on sample contamination. This chapter provides a unique perspective through a surface charged-based approach ...