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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Microplastics (MPs) are a widespread environmental threat, especially to aquatic and urban systems. Water quality is
vital for biomass production in microalgal-based industries. Here, industrially relevant microalgae Tetraselmis suecica,
Scenedesmus armatus, and Nannochloropsis gaditana were exposed to PS- and PE-MPs (polystyrene and polyethylene, re spectively – 10-20 μm) contaminated waters (5 and 10 mg/L). Following industrial empirical and ecotoxicological pro cedures, the production period was established as four days (exponential growth phase). 27-long day experiments
were conducted to determine the chronic effects of MPs contamination in microalgal biomass yields. MPs induced
different responses in cell density: T. suecica decreased (up to 11 %); S. armatus showed no changes; and N. gaditana
increased (up to 6 %). However, all three microalgae exhibited significant decreases in biomass production (up to
24, 48, and 52 %, respectively). S. armatus exposed to PS-MPs and N. gaditana exposed to PE-MPs were the most im pacted regarding biomass production. The decrease in biomass yield was due to the reduction in single-cell weight
(up to 14, 47, and 43 %), and/or the production of smaller-sized cells (T. suecica). In response to chronic exposure,
microalgae showed signs of cell density adaptation. Despite cell density normalizing, biomass production was still re duced compared to biomass production in clean water. Computational modelling highlighted that MPs exposure had a
concentration-dependent negative impact on microalgae biomass. The models allow the evaluation of the systematic
risks that MPs impose in microalgal-based industries and stimulate actions towards implementing systems to contain/
eliminate MPs contamination in the waters used in microalgae production.
Description
Keywords
Microalgae Biomass Microplastics Polystyrene Polyethylene Pollution . Faculdade de Ciências da Vida Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia
Citation
Publisher
Elsevier