Analysis of Bio-adsorption Activity of Marine Sponge Symbiont Bacteria against Lead and Arsenic Pollutants

Abstract

Introduction: Arsenic, lead and other heavy metals are toxic pollutants, forming positive ions when concentrated and dissolved in an object. Heavy metal pollutants form accumulations in water areas and are non-biodegradable contaminants.

Objectives: Bacterial bio-adsorption activity against toxic heavy metal pollutants varies due to the influence of bacterial characteristics and internal characteristic factors of metal ion pollutants. This research aims to analyzed the activity, capacity, pattern efficiency and bio-adsorption of As⁺³ and Pb⁺² pollutants by symbiont bacteria of marine sponges Bacillus licheniformis strain ATCC 9789 (BL) and Pseudomonas stutzeri strain SLG510A3-8 (PS).

Methods: The analytical method uses a suspension of two types of marine sponge symbiont bacteria interacted with two types of dissolved heavy metal pollutants as contaminants for 20 days. Bio-adsorption capacity was measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.

Results: Performance and bio-adsorption capacity of BL bacteria are relatively more dominant than PS bacteria to heavy metal pollutants As⁺³ and Pb⁺². Bio-adsorption capacity and efficiency of BL bacteria on As⁺³ ˃ Pb⁺² pollutants, similarly, the bio-adsorption activity of PS bacteria on As⁺³ ˃ Pb⁺². The average efficiency of BL bacteria bio-adsorption to As⁺³ (93.68%) and Pb⁺² (64.49%), while the average efficiency of PS bacteria to As⁺³ pollutants (76.13%) and to Pb⁺² (59.50 %).

Conclusions: Bacteria Bacillus licheniformis strain ATCC 9789 (BL) sponge symbiont Auletta sp. and Pseudomonas stutzeri strain SLG510A3-8 (PS) sponge symbiont Hyrtios erectus, had bio-adsorption activity against heavy metal pollutants As⁺³ test and Pb⁺². The bio-adsorption capacity and performance of BL bacteria is more dominant than PS bacteria, both against pollutants As⁺³ and Pb⁺². The bio-adsorption pattern of BL and PS bacteria against heavy metal pollutants follows the growth phase of bacteria.