heavy metals, dyes, crude oil, and pesticides from the wastewaters of different
industries followed by a critical overview of their utilization, suitability, biomass
production, and potential in bioremediation of industrial wastewater.
Keywords Phycoremediation · Biosorption · Cyanobacteria · Industrial
wastewaters
1 Introduction
Cyanobacteria are also called blue-green algae; they are simple, have primitive life
forms, and are closely related to bacteria. Their size is larger than bacteria and they
do photosynthesis like algae. Morphologically, cyanobacteria occurs in the form of
single cell structure, filamentous or colonial forms. Some filamentous species have
special cells called heterocysts, which fix atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) into chemical
forms. They produce energy through photosynthesis, but do not have nucleus or
membrane-bound organelles, like chloroplasts. Cyanobacteria have cell structure
like gram-positive bacteria, featuring a thick peptidoglycan layer that lies between
the cell membrane and outer membrane. Cyanobacteria have layers of thylakoids,
which are membrane-bound structures where the “light” photosynthetic reactions
occur. Finally, at the center of the cell lies the DNA of the cell as well as the
cyanobacteria’s carboxysomes. Cyanobacteria lack flagella, making it difficult for
them to move under their own power. However, some species can move by gliding
along surfaces.
The cyanobacteria contain chlorophyll a and other pigments that are used for
photosynthesis. The chlorophylls and pigments efficiently capture specific wavelengths of light, transferring the light energy to the cell. Phycocyanin, a blue color
pigment, is the origin of the cyano in the name cyanobacteria, and this pigment, in
conjunction with the green chlorophyll, is the source of the common name bluegreen algae. However, not all cyanobacteria are blue; some common forms are red or
pink from the pigment phycoerythrin.
2 Classification of Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria seem like algae and bacteria and have been classified in the kingdom
Plantae and Monera. In kingdom Plantae, cyanobacteria are included in division
Cyanophyta or class Cyanophyceae or Myxophyceae, while in kingdom
Procaryotae, they are included in division Cyanobacteria (Murray 1968) or order
390
S. Mona et al.
industries followed by a critical overview of their utilization, suitability, biomass
production, and potential in bioremediation of industrial wastewater.
Keywords Phycoremediation · Biosorption · Cyanobacteria · Industrial
wastewaters
1 Introduction
Cyanobacteria are also called blue-green algae; they are simple, have primitive life
forms, and are closely related to bacteria. Their size is larger than bacteria and they
do photosynthesis like algae. Morphologically, cyanobacteria occurs in the form of
single cell structure, filamentous or colonial forms. Some filamentous species have
special cells called heterocysts, which fix atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) into chemical
forms. They produce energy through photosynthesis, but do not have nucleus or
membrane-bound organelles, like chloroplasts. Cyanobacteria have cell structure
like gram-positive bacteria, featuring a thick peptidoglycan layer that lies between
the cell membrane and outer membrane. Cyanobacteria have layers of thylakoids,
which are membrane-bound structures where the “light” photosynthetic reactions
occur. Finally, at the center of the cell lies the DNA of the cell as well as the
cyanobacteria’s carboxysomes. Cyanobacteria lack flagella, making it difficult for
them to move under their own power. However, some species can move by gliding
along surfaces.
The cyanobacteria contain chlorophyll a and other pigments that are used for
photosynthesis. The chlorophylls and pigments efficiently capture specific wavelengths of light, transferring the light energy to the cell. Phycocyanin, a blue color
pigment, is the origin of the cyano in the name cyanobacteria, and this pigment, in
conjunction with the green chlorophyll, is the source of the common name bluegreen algae. However, not all cyanobacteria are blue; some common forms are red or
pink from the pigment phycoerythrin.
2 Classification of Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria seem like algae and bacteria and have been classified in the kingdom
Plantae and Monera. In kingdom Plantae, cyanobacteria are included in division
Cyanophyta or class Cyanophyceae or Myxophyceae, while in kingdom
Procaryotae, they are included in division Cyanobacteria (Murray 1968) or order
390
S. Mona et al.