Influence of Blue-Green Algae on the pH and Buffer Capacity of Culture Media

Authors

Ruth B. Wildman, Iowa State UniversityFollow
Barbara L. Benner, Iowa State University
Douglas D. Held, Iowa State University
Charles W. Schauberger, Iowa State University

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Buffer Capacity, Blue-Green Algae, Anabaena cylindrica, Anacystis nidulans, Nostoc muscorum

Abstract

Three strains of the blue-green algae Anabaena cylindrica, Anacystis nidulans and Nostoc muscorum are able to adjust the pH of culture medium from stress levels (pH 4-6) to levels favorable for growth (pH 7-10). Over a period of one week, these strains increased the buffer capacity of their media with time. The pH of maximum buffer capacity after one week was very close to the pK₂ of phosphoric acid. Algae grown in a medium initially buffered with Na₂CO₃ shifted the pH of maximum buffer capacity from the pK of carbonic acid to that of phosphoric acid.

Publication Date

December 1974

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

81

Issue

4

First Page

192

Last Page

196

Copyright

©1974 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Wildman, Ruth B.; Benner, Barbara L.; Held, Douglas D.; and Schauberger, Charles W. (1974) "Influence of Blue-Green Algae on the pH and Buffer Capacity of Culture Media," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 81(4), 192-196.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol81/iss4/11