Reduction of toxic hexavalent chromium was studied by using four chromium resistant lyophilized strains of bacterial isolates of Sukinda mining area viz., Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas putida, Serratia marcescens and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. The isolates tolerated hexavalent chromium beyond 500ppm and were selected for reduction. Amongst the four isolates a gram negative strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus showed highest amount of hexavalent chromium reduction of 38.1% when inoculated in a non-nutritive medium of Phosphate Buffer Saline(PBS) solution with 100 ppm Cr(VI) at 30°C for 24 hours at pH 7.0. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was selected for parametric studies and was observed to exhibit highest reduction potential of 47.1% at pH 8.0, temperature 30°C/ 24 hours. Therefore, it is concluded that Acinetobacter calcoaceticus may be used in the bioremediation of hexavalent chromium toxicity.
Bioremediation, Hexavalent chromium, Non-nutritive medium, Chromium toxicity
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