Abstract
The present study investigated biosorption of Pb (II) and Zn (II) using a heavy metal tolerant bacterium Oceanobacillus profundus KBZ 3-2 isolated from a contaminated site. The effects of process parameters such as effect on bacterial growth, pH and initial lead ion concentration were studied. The results showed that the maximum removal percentage for Pb (II) was 97% at an initial concentration of 50 mg/L whereas maximum removal percentage for Zn (II) was at 54% at an initial concentration of 2 mg/L obtained at pH 6 and 30 °C. The isolated bacteria were found to sequester both Pb (II) and Zn (II) in the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The EPS facilitates ion exchange and metal chelation-complexation by virtue of the existence of ionizable functional groups such as carboxyl, sulfate, and phosphate present in the protein and polysaccharides. Therefore, the use of indigenous bacteria in the remediation of contaminated water is an eco-friendly way of solving anthropogenic contamination.
Highlights
The contamination of water bodies by heavy metals has resulted in increased research on how to remove such toxic pollutants from the environment
Inefficient biosorption of Zn (II) at higher Zn(II) concentrations occurs because Zn (II) is a trace element required for the growth of heterotrophic bacteria[21], such as O. profundus
At higher concentrations, Zn (II) hinders the survival of the bacteria; this is consistent with previous results that Zn (II) is a highly reactive divalent metal ion and that it would readily displace metal ions required for bacterial growth[22]
Summary
The contamination of water bodies by heavy metals has resulted in increased research on how to remove such toxic pollutants from the environment. This study aims to assess the heavy metal removal by Oceanobacillus profundus KBZ 3-2, a strain isolated by our research group at the Kabwe Mine site, Zambia, Africa[17]. This bacterium was isolated when we investigated the biocementation of mine waste by immobilization using ureolytic bacteria by microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation. This study investigated the removal of heavy metals by isolated bacteria in single metal ion batch experiments in a solution prepared to imitate the environment at the abandoned lead–zinc mine at Kabwe, Zambia. The mechanism of biosorption was discussed and especially focused on the dominant factor affecting biosorption
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