THE MAP OF DETOXIFICATION OF MANAGNESE AND NICKEL IN MICROALGAE

The aim of this continuation is to complete the spatial and temporal aspects of adaptation of microalgae to Mn and Ni pollution. The process of uptake of Mn has been examined during the proposal EV-529. Now, our objective is to understand the trajectory of Ni ion movement between extracellular barriers and organelles within microalgal cells in response to Ni excess. Considering that real-world wastewater scenarios often involve the coexistence of both Mn and Ni, we plan to map samples exposed to both elements to investigate if their concurrent presence induces changes in the mode of accumulation. XRF is indispensable for intracellular metal mapping, facilitating the localization of Ni and Mn by identifying cellular compartments based on the known distribution of elements (P, Ca, Fe, Cl, S, Zn). Understanding the mechanisms of adaptation will contribute to the development of microalgae-based biotechnologies for wastewater treatment and metal recovery.