Biomineralization of charophytes and their application in arsenic removal from aquatic environment

As(III) is present in neutral form (H3AsO30) at the pH ranges of natural waters; therefore, sorption and biosorption are not much effective removal methods for dissolved arsenic. In this study, we investigated the biomineralization of charophyte C. braunii in Ca and Mn-containing media and its potential for remediation of As(III) in aquatic environments. Relative proportions of the arsenic adsorbed in the plant biomass and those incorporated into calcium and manganese deposits were discerned using a modified sequential extraction. Under favorable conditions, over 50% of the accumulated arsenic by the plant was Mn-bound.