Introduction:

The accumulation of heavy metals, such as arsenic, in aquatic ecosystems may lead to significant ecological and health issues, disrupting environmental stability and potential risks to human, plant, and animal health. Phytoremediation, particularly using microalgae as bioremediation, offers a promising approach to address these pollution challenges.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the arsenic removal capacity of two green microalgae species, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus dimorphus.

Methods:

Both species were collected from water sources in Vuelta de Kooper ASADA 5, Aguas Zarcas, San Carlos. Initial strains of C. vulgaris and S. dimorphus were grown in BG11 culture medium under controlled light and temperature conditions. The biomass from each culture was resuspended in water samples from the ASADA in Aguas Zarcas (with known Arsenic concentration), and some reagents from the BG11 medium. Experimental treatments were conducted for 8 and 13 days for C. vulgaris, and 12-13 days for S. dimorphus, with a control treatment. The total chlorophyll concentration, temperature, and pH were monitored.

Results:

The results demonstrated a significant capacity for arsenic removal. C. vulgaris obtained an average arsenic removal of 20.51 % after 8 days of treatment and 31.67 % after 13 days. After 13 days of treatment, S. dimorphus showed an average arsenic removal of 47.19 %. According to bioaccumulation, both species exhibited bioaccumulation percentages greater than 97 %.

Conclusion:

The arsenic removal and bioaccumulation data have demonstrated the potential of C. vulgaris and S. dimorphus as promising candidates for the phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated waters.