Effect of initial Reactive Red 120 concentrations on the biomass production and dye uptake by Spirulina platensis

Uptake of Reactive Red (RR) 120 and biomass production by Spirulina platensis in the Schlosser medium was followed at different initial dye concentrations (0, 15, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg L(-1)) under 2.0 klux continuous illuminations. Initial dye concentrations and cultivation time significantly affected (p<0.01) biomass productions. It was observed that increment rate of biomass was especially achieved between 77 and 144 h at dye concentration range between 0.0-75 mg L(-1). However, remarkable increment rate was not observed at 100 mg L(-1) dye concentration. Change in initial dye concentrations from 15 to 100 mg L(-1) strongly affected (p<0.01) amount of the dye uptake (q(t)). Increasing initial dye concentrations from 15 to 1100 mg L(-1) increased (p<0.01) the equilibrium dye uptake (q(eq)) values from 8.08 to 18.31 mg g(-1). Tukey HSD test revealed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among q(eq) values at initial dye concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 mg L(-1). This cyanobacterium is able to withstand high concentrations of RR 120, which is to be important for waste-water treatment systems.