The study characterized five iron(III) complexes with heterocyclic N-donor ligand pyridine-3-carboxamide (pca) [FeCl(3)(pca)(3)], [Fe(H(2)O)(2)(pca)(3)](ClO(4))(3), [Fe(2)O(ac)(2)(pca)(6)]Cl(2).3H(2)O, [Fe(NO(3))(3)(pca)(3)].3H(2)O, [Fe(Cl(2)ac)(3)(pca)(3)] (ac = acetate, Cl(2)ac = dichloroacetate) and their effects on biomass, chlorophylls (a, b), photosynthetic oxygen production and iron biosorption in algae Desmodesmus quadricauda. The effects of Fe(III) complexes were compared with control and those of FeCl(3).6H(2)O. While pca coordination to iron atom through the nitrogen atom of its heterocyclic ring mostly increased iron inhibitory effect on algal biomass and chlorophylls production, oxygen production was enhanced. The exceptions were observed only for [Fe(2)O(ac)(2)(pca)(6)]Cl(2).3H(2)O complex effect on biomass and oxygen production and [Fe(H(2)O)(2)(pca)(3)](ClO(4))(3) complex effect on chlorophylls production. Complexation increased iron biosorption in algal biomass and iron accumulated amount in algae was 2.8-20 times higher than that from FeCl(3).6H(2)O with maximal accumulation from dimeric complex [Fe(2)O(ac)(2)(pca)(6)]Cl(2).3H(2)O. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.