Biosorption of Cr ions from tannery effluent using microalgae proteins through metal docking with the prediction of significant protein metal interaction

Numerous contaminants including chromium, formaldehydes, biocides, oils, chlorophenols, detergents and phthalates, are present in tannery wastewater (TWW). Together with these pollutants, TWW is a rich source of nutrients that microalgae can use to grow including phosphorus, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Microalgae are thought to be highly effective microorganisms for wastewater remediation through bioaccumulation, biodegradation and biosorption because of their quick growth, adaptability, robustness against strains, high surface to volume:ratio and low energy consumption. In the current study, molecular docking studies provide the valuable insights into the interaction between protein and chromium ion. From the results, it can be concluded that all the microalgae proteins exhibited best docking scores with chromium compound. Thus, it can be proposed that these microalgae could be used in metal detoxification and can be used for heavy metals remediation.