The Effect of Time When Zinc(II) is Placed in Soil on the Ability of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to Bioremediate Urban Soils
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Heavy metal pollutants have been found in soil, causing the area to become unsustainable by destroying pre-existing ecosystems. However, cyanobacteria, specifically C. reinhardtii, have shown promise in revitalizing polluted areas via biosorption. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the initial presence of cyanobacteria or the introduction of cyanobacteria as a new factor after contamination would be more effective in the reduction of heavy metal concentration and toxicity in the environment. It was hypothesized that if Zn2+ was placed in urban soil after C. reinhardtii was added and before C. reinhardtii was added, more biosorption would take place when C. reinhardtii was placed before Zn2+ is added. Soil samples with no C. reinhardtii added, Zn2+ added first, and C. reinhardtii added first were tested over a 12-day period. The sample with no C. reinhardtii added had a mean Zn2+ concentration of 292 parts per million (ppm), C. reinhardtii added first had a mean concentration of 62 (ppm); and Zn2+ added first had a concentration of 84 ppm.The results of this experiment suggests that there is a significant difference in the order of addition of C. reinhardtii, between-groups d.f.=2, within-groups d.f.=87, F=1749.86, p<.00001. The null hypothesis was rejected, thus having cyanobacteria present beforehand may have a greater chance of preventing heavy metal toxicity in soil.
Recommended Citation
Phan, Vianne, "The Effect of Time When Zinc(II) is Placed in Soil on the Ability of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to Bioremediate Urban Soils" (2023). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 86.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2023/all/86
Location
BS 349
Start Date
3-25-2023 11:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Time When Zinc(II) is Placed in Soil on the Ability of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to Bioremediate Urban Soils
BS 349
Heavy metal pollutants have been found in soil, causing the area to become unsustainable by destroying pre-existing ecosystems. However, cyanobacteria, specifically C. reinhardtii, have shown promise in revitalizing polluted areas via biosorption. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the initial presence of cyanobacteria or the introduction of cyanobacteria as a new factor after contamination would be more effective in the reduction of heavy metal concentration and toxicity in the environment. It was hypothesized that if Zn2+ was placed in urban soil after C. reinhardtii was added and before C. reinhardtii was added, more biosorption would take place when C. reinhardtii was placed before Zn2+ is added. Soil samples with no C. reinhardtii added, Zn2+ added first, and C. reinhardtii added first were tested over a 12-day period. The sample with no C. reinhardtii added had a mean Zn2+ concentration of 292 parts per million (ppm), C. reinhardtii added first had a mean concentration of 62 (ppm); and Zn2+ added first had a concentration of 84 ppm.The results of this experiment suggests that there is a significant difference in the order of addition of C. reinhardtii, between-groups d.f.=2, within-groups d.f.=87, F=1749.86, p<.00001. The null hypothesis was rejected, thus having cyanobacteria present beforehand may have a greater chance of preventing heavy metal toxicity in soil.
