This study was conducted to evaluate four species of algae
(Chromulina freiburgensis Dofl., Chlorella ellipsoidea
Gerneck, Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck, and Chamydomonas
acidophila Negoro) isolated from an acid pit lake for their
bioremediative potential. The Berkeley Pit Lake system, located in
Butte, Montana, is an abandoned open-pit mine. As a result of acid
rock drainage the water in this pit is very acidic and contains high
concentrations of dissolved metals. First, optimal nutrient levels for
each species of algae were determined. Levels of nutrients tested
include: 5, 10, 15 mg-N/L, and 0, 3, 6 mg-P/L. The experiment was
conducted with sterile filtered Berkeley Pit water. Next, each species
of algae were grown under optimal nutrient levels and dissolved metal
removal potentials were examined, using Inductively Coupled
Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). In addition, field
sampling was preformed to gain a better understanding of the microbial
community within the pit. Finally, field parameters including, light,
temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, redox potential,
and turbidity were examined to determine the actual conditions for
microbial growth within the Berkeley pit.
Key words: acidophiles, algae, bioremediation, metal, pit lakes, remediation