Suresh Chandrabose (PhD Student)
University of South Australia

Project Title
Algae-bacterial system for remediation of contaminants

Biography
Suresh Ramraj is a PhD student with the University of South Australia and CRC CARE (CERAR). Before joining here he worked as Senior research fellow in UPASI-TRF in India, he also had research experience with India's Leading Biotech industry (MAHYCO), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Sugarcane breeding institute), and in State University (Alagappa University). He did his Masters in Biotechnology from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, and Bachelors in Microbiology from Madurai Kamaraj University. His current research interests include exploiting the potential of algae and cyanobacteria for bioremediation of contaminants.

Start Date
February 2009

Project Details
The efficiency of microalgae in biodegrading the pollutants were not exploited to a great extent, culturing the algae is very much easier and being phototroph they don't necessitate expensive carbon rich medium like the heterotrophic bacterium. Besides microalgae can be used as the helper organism to support the growth of biodegrading bacterium and they can also extend helping hand by biosorbtion of toxic heavy metals. Algae can also absorb nitrogen and phosphate from the effluents, they can also remove Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen oxide from the environment. The main aim of the proposed project is to develop the bioremediation strategy for treating various hazardous industrial pollutants and pesticides involving algal bacterial mix. It is very essential to establish this approach as usage of algae will greatly reduce the cost involved in the biodegradation, as cost is the main hindrance in adopting the novel biodegradation technique by industries.