Characterization and analysis of Gomphonema sp frustule based on SEM/EDS

Abstract

Diatoms are unicellular algae whose cell wall structure is mainly made up of silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Frustules were extracted from fresh diatom taxa (<em>Gomphonema sp</em>.) by treating with concentrated HNO₃ and HCl. The Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed that the diatoms have a valve asymmetrical to apical axis and raphe system is well developed and are unequal size. From significance of energy dispersive X - ray spectroscopy (EDS) examination it was proved that the frustules from diatoms are mainly made up of silicon through amorphous silica (SiO₂).