Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Aspergilllus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum isolated from tannery effluent-contaminated soil showed resistance to chromium [Cr (VI)] with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 80-120 mg/l in potato dextrose or nutrient agar. This increased to 100-150 mg/l in glucose and yeast extract supplemented mineral salts medium. Significant removal of Cr (VI) occurred in tannery effluents treated with the isolates singly, although reductions were >0.05 mg/l (stipulated limit) in all treatments. Chromium was reduced in glucose, beef and yeast extracts supplemented effluents to non-detectable levels < 0.05 mg/l in all except in E. coli treatment. However, mixed cultures' treatment of non-supplemented effluent reduced Cr (V1) below 0.05 mg/l with the consortium of P. aeruginosa, P. chysogenum and A. niger reaching 99.6-100% removal. Mixed bacterial and fungal culture may be of potential cost effective application in the removal of chromium in tannery wastes.
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