Isolation and Characterization of Heavy Metals-Resistant Bacterial Strain from Industrial Effluents of Metal Processing Industries

Abstract

Most Industries release their effluents in natural reservoirs after necessary treatment. In due course of time, heavy metal contaminants are accumulated in natural reservoirs and contaminate the natural ecosystem.  Heavy metals like Ni, Al, Fe, Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb are released in natural reservoirs from industrial effluents. It accumulates and pollutes the sail and water ecosystem at large. Heavy metals released from industrial wastes and combustion of non-renewable fuels contaminate the underground water resources and various horizons of soil, which causes deleterious ill effects on human health. The second most prevalent source of heavy metal contamination includes industrial waste, metal corrosion, effluents of metal processing industries, and mining practices, which infiltrate the underground water and soil. In the current research, five small metal processing industrial sites were identified for the isolation and characterization of the heavy metal-resistance bacterial strain. Contaminated soil and water samples were collected from the wastewater disposal site of the industries. After the identification of the heavy metals in water and soil samples of the contaminated areas of the waste disposal sites were taken to isolate heavy metal resistance strains of microbial flora. To isolate the heavy metal-resistant bacterial strain, the culture medium was fortified with optimum concentration of heavy metal salts. After the isolation and biochemical characterization of isolated bacterial strains, a variety of bacteria with unidentified strains were obtained. A series of known bacterial strains were identified that survive in the heavy metal enriched environment. To identify the species and strain of the bacteria, molecular characterization was subjected to study. The purpose of the present study is to isolate the bacterial strain of heavy metal resistance and to apply it for the purpose of heavy metal bioremediation. After the validation and optimization of bacterial mass culture production, it may be used for the reclamation of soil and contaminated drinking water.