Insight into Cr6+ reduction efficiency of Rhodococcus erythropolis isolated from coalmine waste water

Abstract

A microbial treatment of Cr6+ contaminated wastewater with a chromium reducing bacteria isolated from coal mine area was investigated. In a series of batch study metal removal was executed under different parametric conditions which include pH (2–7), temperature (20–50 °C), initial Cr6+ concentration (1–100 mg/L), substrate utilization and its overall effect on biomass generation. Impact of oxygen availability was checked at different agitation speed and its role on the remedial process. Liquid phase reduction of Cr6+ was measured in terms of substrate reduction and total biomass yield. The bacterium species isolated was able to tolerate Cr6+ over a wide range from 1 to 100 mg/L before it reached minimum inhibition concentration. Apart from Cr6+, the bacterial isolate showed tolerance towards Fe, As, Cu, Ag, Zn, Mn, Mg and Pb. Removal mechanism adopted by the bacterium recommended that it employed accumulation of Cr6+ as Cr3+ both within and outside the cell. Classical Monod equation was used to determine the biokinetics of the bacterial isolate along with the interference of metal ion concentration and substrate utilization. Cr6+ removal was found prominent even in bimetallic solutions. The bacterial isolate was confirmed to be Rhodococcus erythopolis by 16s rRNA molecular characterization. Thus the bacterial isolate obtained from the coal mine area proved to be a potential agent for microbial remediation of Cr6+ laden waste water.