Abstract
A bacterial strain capable of Zinc and Lead biosorption was isolated from mine tailings. This strain showed the highest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of metals among other isolates in metal-resistance tests. Sorption tests were conducted placing 0.015 g of dry biomass in 10 ml of metallic solution at fixed pH. Contact was analyzed at different times (kinetics) and different initial concentrations (isotherm). The biomass was separated by centrifugation and the concentration of non-absorbed metal was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The strain was identified by 16S sequencing as Delftia tsuruhatensis. The order of toxicity of the metals to the bacterium was Zn > Pb > Se > Ni > Cu = Al. Zinc and Lead absorption kinetics were adjusted to the pseudo second order equation (r2 = 0.99), showing that equilibrium was reached at 40 and 20 min, respectively. Maximal absorption of Pb and Zn was 0.216 and 0.207 mmol?g–1, respectively; which can be considered a median magnitude capacity when compared to other biosorbents described in the literature.
Highlights
Heavy metals are among the more harmful pollutants that can be found in water
A bacterial strain capable of Zinc and Lead biosorption was isolated from mine tailings
The strain was identified by 16S sequencing as Delftia tsuruhatensis
Summary
Heavy metals are among the more harmful pollutants that can be found in water. Potential damage to the public health in human population and other ecotoxicologial effects in living organism can be expected if contaminated water is consumed [1]. Several methods have been applied to remove these elements from water. Each of them is limited by specific technical and economic factors. When metals are found at low concentrations the removal from solutions using biomasses offers advantages over physico-chemical methods [2]. The biosorption is a cost effective method for reach levels below of the permissible standards when contaminated water has metal content not far of this limits. The extent will depend on the capacity of the biological material
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