US EPA

363516 

Journal Article 

Biosorption of mercury by bacteria, isolated from industrial effluents: potential use in bioremediation of wastewater 

Rehman, A; Ashfaq, A; Shakoori, AR 

2008 

1 

Pakistan Journal of Zoology
ISSN: 0030-9923 

40 

2 

115-122 

WOS:000254230000009 

Two mercury resistant bacterial strains-Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas sp. H1-G1 were isolated from industrial wastewater of Sialkot (Pakistan). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of Hg2+ ranged between 400-500 µg/mL. Pseudomonas aeruginosa could tolerate Pb2+ (650 µg/mL), Cu2+ (200 µg/mL), Cd2+ (50 µg/mL), Zn2+ (50 µg/mL), Ni2+ (550 µg/mL) and Cr6+ (100 µg/mL). Pseudomonas sp. H1-G on the other hand, showed resistance against Pb2+, Cu2+, Cr6+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ at a concentration of 650, 350, 150, 550, 50, and 250 µg/mL, respectively. The isolates showed typical growth curves but lag and log phases extended in the presence of mercury. Both isolates showed optimum growth at 37°C and pH 8-9. Metal processing ability of the isolates was determined in a medium containing 100 µg/mL of Hg2+. Both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas. sp. H1-G1 could reduce 90% of mercury from the medium after 40 hours of incubation at 37°C. Both bacterial strains have shown remarkable ability to uptake metal ions from the culture medium. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed to uptake 75% and Pseudomonas sp. H1-G1 65% of Hg2+ from the medium after 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. The isolated strains can be exploited for specific environmental clean-up operations. 

biodegradation; biological treatment; bioremediation; cadmium; chromium; copper; heavy metals; industrial effluents; industrial wastes; lead; mercury; nickel; sorption; waste management; waste water; waste water treatment; water quality; zinc; Pakistan; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; South Asia; Asia; Developing Countries; Commonwealth of Nations; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonadaceae; Gracilicutes; bacteria; prokaryotes; industrial waste waters; water composition and quality; Water Resources (PP200); Industrial Wastes and Effluents (XX400); Biodegradation (XX700)