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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
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Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
Published on: July 10, 2015
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A new approach for determining trace platinum concentrations in macroalgae and evaluating tissue-specific
Ziwei Li1, Asami S Mashio2, Kuo H Wong3
1Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan. liziwei@stu.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
Summary
Platinum (Pt) pollution in coastal areas was monitored using the macroalga Undaria pinnatifida. This biomonitor showed distinct Pt accumulation patterns in different tissues, aiding in tracking environmental Pt levels.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Marine Biology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Platinum (Pt) is widely used, leading to environmental contamination.
- Coastal ecosystems require monitoring for Pt accumulation due to potential ecotoxicological effects.
- Macroalgae like Undaria pinnatifida can accumulate platinum group elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Undaria pinnatifida as a biomonitor for Pt in coastal environments.
- To develop and optimize an analytical method for Pt quantification in macroalgal tissues.
- To assess anthropogenic Pt influences in coastal areas using U. pinnatifida.
Main Methods:
- Developed and optimized an analytical protocol using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Pt quantification.
- Determined optimal digestion conditions using hydrofluoric acid and hydrochloric acid for improved Pt recovery.
- Quantified tissue-specific Pt concentrations in U. pinnatifida from various coastal zones.
Main Results:
- The optimized ICP-MS method achieved high sensitivity with a method blank of 16 ppt and a detection limit of 5 ppt.
- Significant spatial variations in Pt concentrations were observed across different U. pinnatifida organs.
- Pt concentrations decreased from outer to inner bays in blades, stipes, and sporophylls, while holdfasts showed an opposite trend.
Conclusions:
- Undaria pinnatifida is a suitable biomonitor for tracking Pt in coastal ecosystems.
- Distinct Pt accumulation behaviors exist between above-ground and below-ground tissues of U. pinnatifida.
- The study highlights the potential for monitoring spatial variations of Pt using this macroalga.
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