Abstract
A resistant and capable fungal strain in removing hexavalent chromium was isolated from an environment near of Chemical Science Faculty, located in the city of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The strain was identified as Paecilomyces sp., by macro- and microscopic characteristics. Strain resistance of the strain to high Cr (VI) concentrations and its ability to reduce chromium were studied. When it was incubated in minimal medium with glucose, another inexpensive commercial carbon source like unrefined and brown sugar or glycerol, in the presence of 50 mg/L of Cr (VI), the strain caused complete disappearance of Cr (VI), with the concomitant production of Cr (III) in the growth medium after 7 days of incubation, at 28°C, pH 4.0, 100 rpm, and an inoculum of 38 mg of dry weight. Decrease of Cr (VI) levels from industrial wastes was also induced by Paecilomyces biomass. These results indicate that reducing capacity of chromate resistant filamentous fungus Cr (VI) could be useful for the removal of Cr (VI) pollution.
Highlights
Chromium (Cr) toxicity is one of the major causes of environmental pollution emanating from tannery effluents. This metal is used in the tanning of hides and leather, the manufacture of stainless steel, electroplating, textile dyeing, and as a biocide in the cooling waters of nuclear power plants, resulting chromium discharges causing environmental concerns [1]
The fungal strain isolated was able to grow on LMM supplemented with 2000 mg/L of Cr (VI)
The Paecilomyces sp. fungal strain was isolated from polluted air with industrial vapors
Summary
Chromium (Cr) toxicity is one of the major causes of environmental pollution emanating from tannery effluents. Cr (VI) typically exists in one of these two forms: chromate (CrO4 −2 ) or dichromate (Cr2 O7 −2 ), depending on the pH of the solution [3] These two divalent oxyanions are very water soluble and poorly adsorbed by soil and organic matter, making them mobile in soil and groundwater [2]. In these, the general mechanism of chromate resistance is related to limited ion uptake, rather than to chemical reduction of the toxic species [10] Other yeasts such as Candida utilis [11] and Candida maltosa [12] showed partial ability to reduce Cr (VI) and the capability to accumulate Cr in the biomass. Fungal strain that exhibits high level Cr (VI) resistance and reduction potential
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