**Lanthanides and Algae**

**Chapter 6**

**Provisional chapter**

**Lanthanides and Algae**

**Lanthanides and Algae**

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80260

biological roles of lanthanides.

toxicity, fertilizers, metals, recycling, remediation

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Milada Vítová, Mária Čížková and Vilém Zachleder

Milada Vítová, Mária Čížková and Vilém Zachleder

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.80260

This chapter discusses the ecological and physiological impacts of lanthanides on algae as primary producers in aquatic environments. Although lanthanides are nonessential elements for living organisms, their bioaccumulation is a common phenomenon. Here, we critically review the ecological effects of increasing levels of lanthanides directly reaching water systems through mining, application of fertilizers, and the production of advanced technologies. We describe interactions between lanthanides and algae, with a particular focus on various applications including fertilizers, tracers, bioindicators, bioremediation, and recycling. We examine the stimulatory effects of low levels of lanthanides versus their toxicity at higher levels and discuss mechanisms by which they may affect the algal cell. This chapter highlights the importance of a better understanding of the

**Keywords:** algae, microalgae, lanthanides, bioaccumulation, environmental pollution,

Lanthanides play many roles in a number of different fields including chemistry, biology, and medicine [1]. They have also become indispensable in many modern technologies but the growing demand for these metals has also increased their release into the surrounding biosphere. Therefore, it is important to consider and address the impacts of increased lanthanides on the environment. The affinity of algae for these elements can pose a serious environmental

Lanthanides are considered nonessential elements that can induce both positive and negative physiological responses in the living organism. They are not essential for any known

threat or be a unique opportunity for the treatment of contaminated areas.

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

#### **Lanthanides and Algae Lanthanides and Algae**

Milada Vítová, Mária Čížková and Vilém Zachleder Milada Vítová, Mária Čížková and Vilém Zachleder

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80260

**Abstract**

This chapter discusses the ecological and physiological impacts of lanthanides on algae as primary producers in aquatic environments. Although lanthanides are nonessential elements for living organisms, their bioaccumulation is a common phenomenon. Here, we critically review the ecological effects of increasing levels of lanthanides directly reaching water systems through mining, application of fertilizers, and the production of advanced technologies. We describe interactions between lanthanides and algae, with a particular focus on various applications including fertilizers, tracers, bioindicators, bioremediation, and recycling. We examine the stimulatory effects of low levels of lanthanides versus their toxicity at higher levels and discuss mechanisms by which they may affect the algal cell. This chapter highlights the importance of a better understanding of the biological roles of lanthanides.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.80260

**Keywords:** algae, microalgae, lanthanides, bioaccumulation, environmental pollution, toxicity, fertilizers, metals, recycling, remediation

#### **1. Introduction**

Lanthanides play many roles in a number of different fields including chemistry, biology, and medicine [1]. They have also become indispensable in many modern technologies but the growing demand for these metals has also increased their release into the surrounding biosphere. Therefore, it is important to consider and address the impacts of increased lanthanides on the environment. The affinity of algae for these elements can pose a serious environmental threat or be a unique opportunity for the treatment of contaminated areas.

Lanthanides are considered nonessential elements that can induce both positive and negative physiological responses in the living organism. They are not essential for any known

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

metabolic process, but under certain conditions, they may have a positive effect [2, 3]. Unlike heavy metals, whose toxicity has been extensively investigated, the effects of lanthanides have been neglected [4], particularly, their impacts on aquatic environments that are associated with the exploitation of lanthanides [5]. Water contamination by metals is a global problem, and metal recovery from wastewaters and industrial wastes is significant not only from an ecological point of view but also because of the sustainable availability of these materials [6].

This review aims to summarize our knowledge of positive and toxic effects of lanthanides on algae in order to better elucidate their biological roles. Various applications and methods of use, including the possibility of remediation and lanthanide recycling, are also summarized.
