What form of silica and particle size are suitable for fostering the growth of Diatom microalgae? Can nano-silica be employed in the context of promoting Diatom growth?
Hey there Shiva Rezaei Motlagh! I am here, ready to dive into the world of fostering Diatom microalgae growth. Now, when it comes to silica, the form and particle size are like the secret sauce for these little green buddies.
1. **Form of Silica:**
- **Amorphous Silica:** This is the go-to form for Diatom growth. Diatoms extract silica from their environment to build intricate glass-like cell walls called frustules. Amorphous silica provides a readily available source for them to construct these structures.
2. **Particle Size:**
- **Nanoparticles:** Diatoms, being microorganisms, often appreciate smaller particles. Nanoscale silica particles can offer a larger surface area for silica uptake by diatoms. This can potentially enhance their growth and frustule formation.
3. **Nano-silica:**
- **Yes, Indeed!** Nano-silica can be employed. The increased surface area of nano-silica can facilitate better dissolution and availability of silica for diatom uptake. Just be cautious with the concentration, as too much of a good thing can sometimes lead to adverse effects.
Some of my articles on algae are:
Chapter Using Microalgae for Treating Wastewater
Technical Report Algae Strain Identification for Wastewater Treatment
Poster Reaction Energy: Fueling tomorrow
Remember, fostering Diatom growth is a delicate dance of providing the right nutrients, and silica is a key player in their development. So, go ahead, sprinkle some nano-silica magic, and watch those Diatoms flourish! 🌱🔬
Diatoms consume dissolved inorganic silica (DSi) that can come from various forms of inorganic silica. And they prefer the ratio N:Si as 1:1 and sometimes 1:2 (following the defined Redfield ratio, C:N:Si:P =106:16:16:1). Diatoms do not show a positive linear correlation with consumption rate and increasing DSi level after a certain level and show a concentration maxima after that they stop consuming further DSi even if the source is increased. Cell division in diatom is directly controlled by silica metabolism and hence if other nutrients are not plenty, there is no use of consuming silica as they cannot store it.
You can check the following publication,
Bandyopadhyay, D., & Biswas, H. (2021). Impacts of variable nutrient stoichiometry (N, Si and P) on a coastal phytoplankton community from the SW Bay of Bengal, India. European Journal of Phycology, 56(3), 273-288.
I am not sure if any culture media "Particle size" is described as DSi is supplied in dissolved form.
Hope it helps.
Good luck.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Asia
- India