Title: Effects of silver nanoparticles on the growth, mortality rate and morphology of Chlorella vulgaris and Thalassiosira weissflogii algae

Authors: Phuong Hong Lam; Mai Thi Le; Dung My Thi Dang; Nguyen Phuc Cam Tu; Dinh The Nhan; Tin Chanh Duc Doan

Addresses: Institute for Nanotechnology (INT), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Institute for Nanotechnology (INT), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Institute for Nanotechnology (INT), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Institute for Nanotechnology (INT), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam

Abstract: In this paper, we study the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth of two species of algae, Chlorella vulgaris and Thalassiosira weissflogii. The AgNPs used in this experiment were chemically synthesised from a AgNO₃ salt, with an average particle size of 7 nm in diameter. The test was conducted with five concentrations of AgNPs including 0 (control), 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 ppm. The results show that T. weissflogii is more sensitive to the solution of AgNPs than C. vulgaris. In particular when AgNPs solution is added to Erlenmeyer flask microalgae cultures from the start, the concentrations of 0.01 ppm and 0.1 ppm AgNPs do not affect the growth of C. vulgaris. They reach a stationary phase from the eighth to the tenth day of the experiment; the maximum algae density is not different from that of the control. At a concentration of 1 ppm AgNPs, C. vulgaris is completely dead after 96 h of exposure, and at a 10 ppm concentration, the algae is completely dead after 48 h of exposure. However, for T. weissflogii, AgNPs at a concentration of 0.01 ppm do not affect growth. From a concentration of 0.1 ppm, AgNPs alter the growth curve of algae, the maximum density of algae is lower than that of the control, and from a concentration of 1 ppm AgNPs, the algae are totally dead after 24 h of exposure.

Keywords: Chlorella vulgaris; Thalassiosira weissflogii; AgNPs; microalgae growth curve.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2020.111336

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2020 Vol.17 No.7/8/9/10, pp.722 - 739

Published online: 20 Nov 2020 *

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