Abstract
In this study, a biosensor is designed to remove mercury as a toxic metal contaminant from the soil. The rhamnolipid biosurfactant was used to extract the mercury sorbed to soil to the aqueous phase. An immobilized bioluminescent bacterium (Escherichia coli MC106) with pmerRBPmerlux plasmid is assisted for mercury detection. A significant decrease in luminescence level was observed in a biosensor system containing contaminated soil sample extract. The concentrations of extracting mercury are well correlated with the mercury toxicity data obtained from experimental biosensor systems according to the RBL value. The optimum aeration rate of 20 ml/min was obtained for the biosensor systems. The advantage of such a biosensor is the in situ quantification of mercury as a heavy metal contaminant in soils. Therefore, this system could be proposed as a good biosensor-based alternative for future detection of heavy toxic metals in soils.
Highlights
Soil pollution is defined as the existence of toxic substances at high concentrations
The mescore genome from E. coli bacteria has not been used for mercury so far, except in very few cases where soil extraction has not been fully and accurately studied. e extraction of rhamnolipid can be used to increase the extraction rate. erefore, the current study focuses on the biosensor design for the detection of mercury toxicity using rhamnolipid biosurfactants and recombinant bioluminescent bacteria as biosensing systems
(d = 3 g/l) cationic metal interaction. e biosurfactant CMC (Critical Micelle Concentration) value of the rhamnolipid is about 100 mg/l [37]. e CMC of the biosurfactant can be raised by increasing the rhamnolipid concentration. erefore, the mercury concentration is elevated in the aqueous phase
Summary
Soil pollution is defined as the existence of toxic substances at high concentrations. Ese compounds are mainly formed through soil microbial activity [1]. Especially mercury, are the most essential materials that contaminate the soils. E remediation of mercury-contaminated soils is obligatory due to its high toxicity [3, 4]. E primary sources of mercury are metal processing, mining activities, fossil fuel burning, chloride derivatives, and fertilizers [2, 3]. It seems to be the atmospheric precipitation is the main source of metallic pollution [7]
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