RESUMO
The potential of Cosmarium species, belonging to green algae, was investigated as a viable biomaterial for biological treatment of triphenylmethane dye, Malachite Green (MG). The results obtained from the batch experiments revealed the ability of algal species in removing dye. The effects of operational parameters (temperature, pH, dye concentration and algal concentration) on decolorization were examined. Optimal initial pH was determined 9. The stability and efficiency of the algae in long-term repetitive operations were also examined. Michaelis-Menten kinetics was used to describe the apparent correlation between the decolorization rate and the dye concentration. The optimal kinetic parameters, nu(max) and K(m) are 7.63 mg dye g cell(-1)h(-1) and 164.57 ppm, respectively. All assays were conducted in triplicates.