Microbial Mercury Reduction Potential In Gold Mining Waste: Bacillus Subtilis And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the potential of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in removing mercury from wastewater generated by Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Tatelu and Talawaan Villages, North Minahasa, Indonesia. Following the ban on mercury use in gold processing, there is a need for effective mercury-free processing technologies to mitigate environmental and health impacts. The research begins with the cultivation of rejuvenated bacteria, followed by a preliminary test to establish bacterial growth curves. This test provides guidelines for the duration of stirring during subsequent biodegradation processes. The biodegradation test involves mercury content analysis of wastewater samples, followed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing using lactose broth as the bacterial growth medium. The MIC test helps determine the variations in mercury concentrations and the efficacy of the selected bacteria in degradation. The objectives of this study are to assess the capability of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in removing mercury from ASGM wastewater. The findings hold significant potential for the development of efficient and economically viable biotreatment technologies for addressing mercury contamination in hazardous waste produced by small-scale gold mining. The innovative technology proposed in this study can be readily adopted by other gold mining industries to ensure compliance with stringent environmental and health standards.