Growth and uptake kinetics of nitrate and phosphate by benthic microalgae for phytoremediation of eutrophic coastal sediments

► We investigated the uptake rates of nitrate and phosphate by 4 benthic microalgae. ► The uptake rate were high in the order of blue, mixed, red, yellow wavelength. ► The Nitzschia sp. showed the highest specific uptake rates under all wavelengths. ► The Nitzschia sp. may be a useful species for phytoremediation.