Metals, sulfur content, and biochemical composition of macrocolonies of Nostoc sp. in different geographical locations in Ecuador

Ever  Morales Avendaño; Jhonny Correa-Abril; Elvia V.  Cabrera; Andrés Arevalo Moreno; Mabel Cadena Zumárraga; Nilo M. Robles Carrillo

doi:10.70099/BJ/2025.02.01.3

Authors

Ever Morales Avendaño Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí ESPAM MFL/ Manabí / Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9006-4996
Jhonny Correa-Abril Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación en Alimentos, Compuestos Orgánicos, Materiales, Microbiología Aplicada y Energía (ACMME) / Quito / Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6949-1923
Elvia V. Cabrera Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación en Alimentos, Compuestos Orgánicos, Materiales, Microbiología Aplicada y Energía (ACMME) / Quito / Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2685-4624
Andrés Arevalo Moreno Investigador Independiente / Pichincha / Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3772-2010
Mabel Cadena Zumárraga Universidad Metropolitana del Ecuador / Pichincha / Ecuador https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2720-6012
Nilo M. Robles Carrillo Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación en Alimentos, Compuestos Orgánicos, Materiales, Microbiología Aplicada y Energía (ACMME) / Quito / Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6081-8213

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70099/BJ/2025.02.01.3

Keywords:

Nostoc sp., biochemical composition, bioremediation, metals, sulfur

Abstract

Nostoc sp. is a cyanobacterium identified in several localities of Ecuador, and it exhibits significant potential in the pharmaceutical, food, and environmental sectors, which urges the exploration of its possible applications in the country. Macrocolonies of Nostoc sp. were collected at different seasons, and the content of metals, sulfur, and biochemical composition was analyzed according to altitude and geographic position. The results showed that the average carbohydrate content corresponds to 30.34% dry biomass, 27.38% ash, 25.33% protein, 7.66% crude fiber, and 0.71% fat. Regarding the content of metals and elements, it was found that Aluminum presented the highest value of 2049.23 mg/kg, followed by 1786.74 mg/kg, 1364.08 mg/kg, and 443.12 mg/kg of Fe, Mg, and S, respectively, and with the lowest for Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd of 7.34 mg/kg, 5.62 mg/kg, 3.99 mg/kg and 0.74 mg/kg; respectively; with the following descending order: Al>Fe>Mg>S>Cu>Ni>Pb>Cd at all sites sampled and regardless of altitude and period of rain or drought. Consequently, its potential to adsorb these elements from the environment is preliminarily demonstrated, showing that it could be used in applications for bioremediation of contaminated soils and waters or be an essential bioindicator of environmental pollution.

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Metals, sulfur content, and biochemical composition of macrocolonies of Nostoc sp. in different geographical locations in Ecuador

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