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Abstract
Growth and nitrogen fixing ability of unicellular Cyanobacterium, Gloeocapsa, were investigated in the presence of various concentrations of two types of surfactants; anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and non‐ionic Tween 80. Growth of Cyanobacteria was investigated spectrophotometrically. Nitrogen fixation studies were carried out by acetylene reduction method, using gas chromatography. It was observed that both growth and nitrogen fixing ability of Gloeocapsa were inhibited when the amount of SDS in aqueous solution was more than 50 ppm. At lower concentrations, however, no inhibition was observed. Tween 80 was found to be quite toxic to algal growth when its concentration in the solution was 500 ppm. At this concentration strong inhibition of nitrogen fixation was observed, indicating that the presence of anionic SDS is more lethal to Gloeocapsa.