Pollution Abatement of Heavy Metals in Different Conditions by Water Kefir Grains as a Protective Tool against Toxicity

Giorgio Volpi,Janeth Tafur-Marinos,Marco Ginepro,Vincenzo Zelano

doi:10.1155/2019/8763902

Abstract

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that Water Kefir grains can be used as absorbers of metal ions and reports the first application of the Water Kefir grains as a protective tool against toxicity by heavy metal ions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the concentration of heavy metal ions in several Water Kefir solutions during the fermentation process under various conditions. Two colonies of Water Kefir grain were used, and the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ba, and Ca were measured in Water Kefir grain solutions at different contact times (0, 24, 48, and 72 hours), different pH values in citric and acetic buffers, and different Water Kefir grains/metal solution ratios, with and without sucrose (5%). Optical emission spectroscopy was used to measure the concentrations of metal ions. Among the tested experimental conditions, the best combination for pollution abatement is sucrose (5%), contact time 24 hours, starting pH = 4.5, acetate buffer, and Kefir grains/metal solution ratio 1 : 1. In these conditions, the heavy metal abatement by Water Kefir grains is particularly effective for Cr and Pb (70%) and good for Cu, Ni, and Mn (50%).

Highlights

Water kefir is an acid, softly alcoholic and fragrant fermented drink whose fermentation is started with solid Water Kefir grains. ese Water Kefir grains contain an insoluble polysaccharide and bacteria and yeasts responsible for the fermentation [1,2,3]. e insoluble Water Kefir grains act as inoculum when added to a mixture of water and sugar (sucrose), possibly with extra ingredients such as lemon, dried figs, and many others
Is research paper addresses the hypothesis that Water Kefir grains can be used as absorbers of metal ions and reports the first application of the Water Kefir grains as a protective tool against toxicity by heavy metal ions. e aim of this study is to evaluate the concentration of heavy metal ions in several Water Kefir solutions during the fermentation process under various conditions
Two colonies of Water Kefir grain were used, and the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ba, and Ca were measured in Water Kefir grain solutions at different contact times (0, 24, 48, and 72 hours), different pH values in citric and acetic buffers, and different Water Kefir grains/metal solution ratios, with and without sucrose (5%)

Summary

Introduction

Water kefir is an acid, softly alcoholic and fragrant fermented drink whose fermentation is started with solid Water Kefir grains. ese Water Kefir grains contain an insoluble polysaccharide and bacteria and yeasts responsible for the fermentation [1,2,3]. e insoluble Water Kefir grains act as inoculum when added to a mixture of water and sugar (sucrose), possibly with extra ingredients such as lemon, dried figs, and many others. E aim of this study is to evaluate the concentration of heavy metal ions in several Water Kefir solutions during the fermentation process under various conditions. Among the tested experimental conditions, the best combination for pollution abatement is sucrose (5%), contact time 24 hours, starting pH 4.5, acetate buffer, and Kefir grains/metal solution ratio 1 : 1.

Results

Conclusion