Assessment of the heavy metal removal capacity of Dunaliella salina under laboratory conditions

This study evaluates the capacity of Dunaliella salina to remove Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ from contaminated water under laboratory conditions. The halotolerant microalga was cultivated at different metal concentrations, while growth, pH, and residual metal concentrations were monitored using optical density and ICP analyses. The results show that Fe³⁺ inhibits algal growth, whereas Mn²⁺ promotes biomass development. Dunaliella salina also exhibits a higher uptake capacity for Mn²⁺ than for Fe³⁺. The combined OD, pH, and ICP results confirm its suitability for Mn²⁺ removal and indicate considerable potential for treating heavy-metal-contaminated industrial wastewater. The findings also provide a scientific basis for selecting appropriate metal-ion conditions in algal biomass cultivation, carotenoid production, and physiological studies of microalgae exposed to heavy metals.