Bioreduction of Pt (IV) from aqueous solution using sulphate-reducing bacteria

The aims of this study were to investigate the role of sulphate-reducing bacteria in facilitating Pt removal from aqueous solutions and to investigate the role of a hydrogenase enzyme in Pt reduction in vitro. To avoid precipitation of Pt as Pt sulphide, a resting (non-growing) mixed culture was used. A pH-dependent rate of Pt removal from aqueous solution was observed, indicating that metal speciation was the main factor for its removal from solution. The maximum initial concentration of Pt(IV) that the cells can effectively remove from solution was 50 mg/l, while the maximum capacity was only 4 mg of Pt per gram of resting biomass. Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analyses indicated that Pt was being precipitated in the periplasm, a major area of hydrogenase activity in the cells. In vitro investigation of Pt reduction with hydrogen as the electron donor showed that 49% was removed within 1 h when a relatively pure hydrogenase extract was used, 31% was removed with a cell-free soluble extract and 70% removed by live cells.     

Zinc removal from model solution and wastewater by Arthrospira (Spirulina) Platensis biomass

The biosorption of zinc from model solution as well as wastewater by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis biomass was studied. Adsorption capacity of the biosorbent was investigated as a function of contact time between adsorbent and zinc, the initial metals and sorbent concentration, pH value, and temperature. The ability of Arthrospira biomass for zinc biosorption exhibited a maximum at the pH range 4–8. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model as well as the Freundlich model with maximum adsorption capacity of 7.1 mg/g. The pseudo second-order model was found to correlate well with the experimental data. Different thermodynamic parameters, ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° were evaluated and it has been found that the sorption was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. The process of zinc removal from industrial effluent was studied at different time of sorbat–sorbent interaction and different sorbent dosage. Maximum zinc removal (83%) was obtained at sorbent concentration 60 g/L during 1-h experiment. The results indicate that Arthrospira platensis biomass could be effectively used for zinc removal from industrial effluents.     

Ion exchange during heavy metal bio-sorption from aqueous solution by dried biomass of macrophytes

In this study, potentials of oven dried biomass of Eichhornia crassipes, Valisneria spiralis and Pistia stratiotes, were examined in terms of their heavy metal (Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb) sorption capacity, from individual-metal and multi-metal aqueous solutions at pH 6.0+/-0.1 (a popular pH of industrial effluent). V. spiralis was the most and E. crassipes was the least efficient for removal of all the metals. Cd, Pb and Zn were efficiently removed by all the three biomass. Cd was removed up to 98% by V. spiralis. Sorption data for Cr, Ni and Cd fitted better to Langmuir isotherm equation, while, the sorption data for Pb, Zn and Cu fitted better to Freundlich isotherm equation. In general, the presence of other metal ions did not influence significantly the targeted metal sorption capacity of the test plant biomasses. Ion exchange was proven the main mechanism involved in bio-sorption and there was a strong ionic balance between adsorbed (H(+) and M(2+)) to the released ions (Na(+) and K(+)) to and from the biomass. No significant difference was observed in the metal exchanged amount, by doubling of metal concentration (15-30 mg/l) in the solution and employing individual-metal and multi-metal solutions.     

Microflora from leaf debris is suitable for treatment of starch industry wastewater

Biological treatment of industrial waste is a widely practiced technique that generates comparatively less environmentally hazardous waste than other chemical treatment processes. Wet milling of maize generates huge amount of wastewater (5 m³/ton) of low pH with organic matter and nutrients. Anaerobic methanogenic and aerobic bacteria are mostly highly sensitive to low pH. The treatment of wastewater causes huge cost of chemical neutralization or hydraulic recirculation for maintaining neutral pH. In the present study, different microbial consortia isolated from cow dung, active sludge from an anaerobic reactor for treatment of industrial wastewater, and leaf debris from benthic soil were screened for tolerance against low pH and for potential of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in order to find out an alternative microbial population for industrial water treatment at low pH. The most effective consortia found from leaf debris were further investigated for optimal operation. The microscopic analysis of leaf debris sludge showed abundance of Gram‐negative methanococci, which was found tolerant to low pH in plate culture method. On further investigation for COD removal from starch industry effluent, they were found to be most effective at pH 5 with highest COD removal rate of 70% and lowest biomass generation of 81%. Hence, it was concluded that the low pH‐tolerant methanogen bacteria, enriched from leaf debris sludge, is highly beneficial for anaerobic treatment of wastewater from several industries including corn starch industry by reducing cost of operation for neutralization to neutral pH and through reducing excess waste sludge production by the treatment system.     

pH effects on the removal of Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solution by waste brewery biomass

An industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae collected from the waste of a brewing industry was used to remove lead, cadmium and copper from aqueous solutions (1?mm). Metal removal efficiency by using either biomass suspension directly diluted into the metal solutions or biomass previously incubated and washed in distilled water was compared. In all experiments with unwashed biomass a shift in the medium pH from 4.5 to a final value in the 7.0–8.0 range occurred. This pH increase was responsible for a metal precipitation effect associated to the metal biosorption. A very different pH profile was observed when washed biomass was used leading to different removal profiles for Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ and a similar one for Cu²⁺. In the absence of biomass, medium components and/or the excreted intracellular products proved to interfere in the metal removal and to be responsible for 80% Pb²⁺ precipitation, in the pH 4.5–5.0 range. To initial metal solution pH, leading to the lowest residual ion concentrations, after 96?h of contact with unwashed biomass and in the absence of pH adjustment, was 4.5–5.0. Continuous or stepwise adjustment of medium pH to this range during the process was unfavourable for metal removal, being the continuous adjustment the worst procedure. In this case, Cd²⁺ was not biosorbed and Cu²⁺ removal decreased from 76 to 33%. However, Pb²⁺ was always extensively removed (89%) and only slightly affected by pH control. The global results suggest different removal mechanisms for each cation. Cu²⁺ was removed by both metal sorption and precipitation, due to the pH shift that occurred during the process, while Cd²⁺ removal showed to be completely dependent of this pH shift. Pb²⁺ was totally and quickly removed, by precipitation, in the presence of the biomass suspension and at pH 4.5. Moreover, the biosorbent changes occurring during the process played an important role in the metal removal when non-viable microbial biomass is used.     

Lead removal through biological sulfate reduction process

The feasibility of lead removal through biological sulfate reduction process with ethanol as electron donor was investigated. Sulfide-rich effluent from biological process was used to remove lead as lead sulfide precipitate. The experiments were divided into two stages; Stage I startup and operation of sulfidogenic process in a UASB reactor and Stage II lead sulfide precipitation. In Stage I, the COD:S ratio was gradually reduced from 15:1 to 2:1. At the COD:S ratio of 2:1, sulfidogenic condition was achieved as identified by 80-85% of electron flow by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). COD and sulfate removal efficiency were approximately 78% and 50%, respectively. In Stage II, the effluent from UASB reactor containing sulfide in the range of 30-50 mg/L and lead-containing solution of 45-50 mg/L were fed continuously into the precipitation chamber in which the optimum pH for lead sulfide precipitation of 7.5-8.5 was maintained. It was found that lead removal of 85-95% was attained.     

Impact of fluorides on the removal of heavy metals from an electroplating effluent using a flocculent brewer’s yeast strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Besides several toxic heavy metals, electroplating effluents can have in solution different cations and anions, which may influence heavy metals removal by the biomass. Among them, fluorides are commonly used in the electroplating industries and thus can be found in the respective wastewaters. In the present work, the effect of the presence of fluorides in the efficiency of chromium(III), copper(II) and nickel(II) removal, from an effluent, by heat-inactivated cells of a brewing flocculent strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was evaluated. The presence of fluorides severely decreased (>60%) the removal of chromium(III) by yeast biomass. This effect impaired the effective treatment of the effluent according to the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Portuguese law; conversely, a higher removal of copper(II) and nickel(II) was observed. This behaviour can be understood by metal speciation. In the presence of fluorides, chromium(III) was mainly complexed, becoming unavailable for yeast accumulation; this effect decreased the efficiency of chromium(III) removal. Thus, in the presence of fluorides, less chromium(III) is associated with biomass and consequently more yeast binding sites remain available for the uptake of other metals present in solution. This fact explains the increase of copper(II) and nickel(II) removal in the presence of fluorides.     

Use of Phanerochaete chrysosporium biomass for the removal of textile dyes from a synthetic effluent

Summary The use of Phanerochaete chrysosporium biomass for the removal of Reactofix Golden Yellow from aqueous solution and eight textile dyes (four azo and four anthraquinone) from a synthetic effluent (0.6 g/l) at different pH, temperature and biomass concentrations was studied. Adsorption was maximum at pH 2.0 and 40 °C using 2.45 g mycelial biomass. The rate constant of adsorption was 1.95×10⁻¹/min for Reactofix Golden Yellow and 1.64×10⁻¹/min for synthetic effluent. In both cases, the equilibrium data fitted well in the Langmuir but not the Freundlich model of adsorption, and the adsorption was biphasic. Adsorption decreased the COD of Reactofix Golden Yellow and synthetic effluent by 54 and 57%, respectively. Desorption (80–84%) of dyes from P. chrysosporium mycelial surface occurred as the pH increased from 2 to 10.     

Removal of selenate from sulfate-containing media by sulfate-reducing bacterial biofilms

A biofilm-selected strain of a Desulfomicrobium sp. removed selenate from solution to sub-micromolar concentrations during growth on lactate (or hydrogen) and sulfate. Under sulfate-limited growth conditions, selenium was enzymatically reduced to selenide. Under excess sulfate conditions, selenate removal was primarily by enzymatic reduction to elemental selenium. Sequestration by biofilms was greater under the latter condition. Experiments with washed cell suspensions showed that high sulfate concentrations inhibited cell-specific selenate reduction, but when growing cells were exposed to selenate, the biomass increase achieved during incubations with abundant sulfate resulted in more rapid selenate removal. The addition of small amounts of sulfite, or thiosulfate, ameliorated this inhibition. Nitrate also inhibited selenate reduction in washed cell suspensions, apparently due to a general oxidizing effect. These results suggest that where biofilm-based sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) bioreactors are considered for the treatment of mixed metalliferous wastes that contain selenium oxyanions, adequate selenate removal should be achievable under a range of environmental conditions. The form and fate of the precipitated product will, however, be influenced by the dominant reduction pathway, which is controlled by environmental variables.     

Covalent immobilization of laccase on activated carbon for phenolic effluent treatment

Summary Laccase was covalently immobilised to activated carbon using four derivatisation methods. The highest bound activity was obtained using diimide coupling of laccase to carboxyl groups on the carbon. The maximum bound activity was reached at 11.5 mg laccase/g carbon. The carbon-immobilised laccase (CIL) was stable at pH values from 4.0 to 9.0. CIL stored at 4°C lost 38± 5% activity in the first 4 days, then a further 22±5% in 126 days. CIL showed increased stability to low pH although the pH optimum was unchanged. The activation energy of CIL was lower than soluble laccase. Oxidation of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) by CIL in a packed-bed system was only 30±10% of that in a fluidised bed system. Of the initial activity 10–30% was retained after oxidation of seven batches of DMP. CIL removed colour from two industrial effluents. Colour was removed from pulp mill bleach plant effluent at 115 colour units per enzyme unit per hour and the removal rate increased with increasing effluent concentration. Correspondence to: R. G. Burns     

The use of biocides to control sulphate‐reducing bacteria in biofilms on mild steel surfaces

Three different types of biocides, viz. formaldehyde (FM), glutaraldehyde (GA) and isothiozolone (ITZ) were used to control planktonic and sessile populations of two marine isolates of sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB). The influence of these biocides on the initial attachment of cells to mild steel surfaces, on subsequent biofilm formation and on the activity of hydrogenase enzymes within developed biofilms was evaluated. In the presence of biocides the rate and degree of colonization of mild steel by SRB depended on incubation time, bacterial isolate and the type of biocide used. Although SRB differed in their susceptibility to biocides, for all isolates the biofilm population was more resistant to the treatment than the planktonic population. GA showed highest efficiency in controlling planktonic and sessile SRB compared with the other two biocides. The activity of the enzyme hydrogenase measured in SRB biofilms varied between isolates and with the biocide treatment. No correlation was found between the number of sessile cells and hydrogenase activity.     

The pH dependence of proton-deuterium exchange, hydrogen production and uptake catalyzed by hydrogenases from sulfate-reducing bacteria

Different patterns have been found in the pH dependence of hydrogenase activity with enzymes purified from different species of Desulfovibrio. With the cytoplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio baculatus strain 9974, the pH optima in H2 production and uptake were respectively 4.0 and 7.5 with a higher activity in production than in uptake. The highest D2-H+ exchange activity was found also at pH 4.0 but the optima differed for the HD and the H2 components. Both similarly rose when the pH decreased from 9.0 to 4.5, but the rate of H2 evolution slowed whereas the HD evolution continued rising till pH values around 3.0 were reached. The H2 to HD ratio at pH above 4.5 was higher than one. With the periplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, the highest exchange activity was near pH 5.5, the same value as in hydrogen production. The periplasmic hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio gigas had in contrast the same pH optimum in the exchange (7.5-8.0) as in the H2 uptake. The ratio of H2 to HD was below one for both enzymes. These different patterns may be related to functional and structural differences in the three hydrogenases so far studied, particularly in the composition of their catalytic centers.     

Batch studies on the removal of gold(III) from aqueous solution by Azolla filiculoides

Azolla filiculoides removed 86% and 100% of gold(III) from initial metal solutions of 2–10 mg gold l^–1 increasing with increased initial concentrations of gold(III). The biomass gave greater than 95% removal efficiency from solution at all biomass concentrations measured. Complete removal of gold occurred at pH 2, with 42% removal at pH 3 and 4, and 63% and 73% removal at pH 5 and 6, respectively. No temperature-dependence removal was observed.     

聚球藻PCC 7942氢酶的分离纯化及特性研究

报道了室温、空气环境下聚球藻Synechococcus sp.PCC7942氢酶的分离纯化.经过超声破碎、超速离心、离子交换层析、疏水层析及凝胶层析等步骤,氢酶被纯化了218倍,得率为6.5%,比活为1.46U·mg^-1蛋白.纯化氢酶的SDS-PAGE图显示五条蛋白带,分子量约为83kDa,60kDa,47kDa,30kDa和27kDa.该氢酶为可溶性的双向氢酶,其催化放氢的最佳电子供体为还原态的甲基紫精,最适温度50℃,最适pH8.0.     

Biosorption of mercury from aqueous solution by Ulva lactuca biomass

The mercury biosorption onto non-living protonated biomass of Ulva lactuca, as an alternative method for mercury removal from aqueous solutions, was investigated. Batch equilibrium tests showed that at pH 3.5, 5.5 and 7 the maxima of mercury uptake values, according to Langmuir adsorption isotherm, were 27.24, 84.74 and 149.25 mg/g, respectively. The ability of Ulva lactuca biomass to adsorb mercury in fixed-bed column, was investigated as well. The influence of column bed height, flow rate and effluent initial concentration of metal was studied. The adsorbed metal ions were easily desorbed from the algal biomass with 0.3 N H₂SO₄ solution. After acid desorption and regeneration with distilled water, the biomass could be reused for other biosorption assays with similar performances.     

Removal of hexavalent chromium by fungal biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mucor racemosus</Emphasis>: influencing factors and removal mechanism

This study reported the hexavalent chromium removal by untreated Mucor racemosus biomass and the possible mechanism of Cr (VI) removal to the biomass. The optimum pH, biomass dose, initial Cr (VI) concentration and contact time were investigated thoroughly to optimize the removal condition. The metal removal by the biomass was strongly affected by pH and the optimum pH ranged from 0.5 to 1.0. The residual total Cr was determined. It was found that dichromate reduction occurred at a low very low pH value. At biomass dose 6 g/l, almost all the Cr (VI) ions were removed in the optimum condition. Higher removal percentage was observed at lower initial concentrations of Cr (VI) ions, while the removal capacity of the biomass linearly depended on the initial Cr (VI) concentration. More than half of Cr (VI) ions were diminished within 1 h of contact and removal process reached a relative equilibrium in approximately 8 h. Almost all of the Cr (VI) ions were removed in 24 h when initial concentrations were below 100 mg/l. The equilibrium data were fitted in to the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models and the correlated coefficients were gained from the models. A Fourier transform infrared spectra was employed to elucidate clearly the possible biosorption mechanism as well.     

Removal of chromium from industrial waste by using eucalyptus bark

Several low cost biomaterials such as baggase, charred rice husk, activated charcoal and eucalyptus bark (EB) were tested for removal of chromium. All the experiments were carried out in batch process with laboratory prepared samples and wastewater obtained from metal finishing section of auto ancillary unit. The adsorbent, which had highest chromium(VI) removal was EB. Influences of chromium concentration, pH, contact time on removal of chromium from effluent was investigated. The adsorption data were fitted well by Freundlich isotherm. The kinetic data were analyzed by using a first order Lagergren kinetic. The Gibbs free energy was obtained for each system and was found to be -1.879 kJ mol(-1) for Cr(VI) and -3.885 kJ mol(-1) for Cr(III) for removal from industrial effluent. The negative value of deltaG0 indicates the feasibility and spontaneous nature of adsorption. The maximum removal of Cr(VI) was observed at pH 2. Adsorption capacity was found to be 45 mg/g of adsorbent, at Cr(VI) concentration in the effluent being 250 mg/l. A waste water sample containing Cr(VI), Cr(III), Mg, and Ca obtained from industrial unit showed satisfactory removal of chromium. The results indicate that eucalyptus bark can be used for the removal of chromium.     

Cyanide inactivation of hydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The effects of cyanide on membrane-associated and purified hydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii were characterized. Inactivation of hydrogenase by cyanide was dependent on the activity (oxidation) state of the enzyme. Active (reduced) hydrogenase showed no inactivation when treated with cyanide over several hours. Treatment of reversibly inactive (oxidized) states of both membrane-associated and purified hydrogenase, however, resulted in a time-dependent, irreversible loss of hydrogenase activity. The rate of cyanide inactivation was dependent on the cyanide concentration and was an apparent first-order process for purified enzyme (bimolecular rate constant, 23.1 M-1 min-1 for CN-). The rate of inactivation decreased with decreasing pH. [14C]cyanide remained associated with cyanide-inactivated hydrogenase after gel filtration chromatography, with a stoichiometry of 1.7 mol of cyanide bound per mol of inactive enzyme. The presence of saturating concentrations of CO had no effect on the rate or extent of cyanide inactivation of hydrogenases. The results indicate that cyanide can cause a time-dependent, irreversible inactivation of hydrogenase in the oxidized, activatable state but has no effect when hydrogenase is in the reduced, active state.     

Improving the bioremediation of phenolic wastewaters by Trametes versicolor

The successful bioremediation of a phenolic wastewater by Trametes versicolor was found to be dependent on a range of factors including: fungal growth, culture age and activity and enzyme (laccase) production. These aspects were enhanced by the optimisation of the growth medium used and time of addition of the pollutant to the fungal cultures. Different media containing 'high' (20 g/L), 'low' (2 g/L) and 'sufficient' (10 g/L) concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated. The medium containing both glucose and peptone at 10 g/L resulted in the highest Growth Related Productivity (the product of specific yield and micro) of laccase (1.46 Units of laccase activity)/gram biomass/day and was used in all further experiments. The use of the guaiacol as an inducer further increased laccase activity 780% without inhibiting growth; similarly the phenolic effluent studied boosted activity almost 5 times. The timing of the addition of the phenolic effluent was found to have important consequences in its removal and at least 8 days of prior growth was required. Under these conditions, 0.125 g phenol/g biomass and 0.231 g o-cresol/g biomass were removed from solution per day.     

Nickel,manganese and copper removal by a mixed consortium of sulfate reducing bacteria at a high COD/sulfate ratio

The use of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in passive treatments of acidic effluents containing heavy metals has become an attractive alternative biotechnology. Treatment efficiency may be linked with the effluent conditions (pH and metal concentration) and also to the amount and nature of the organic substrate. Variations on organic substrate and sulfate ratios clearly interfere with the biological removal of this ion by mixed cultures of SRB. This study aimed to cultivate a mixed culture of SRB using different lactate concentrations at pH 7.0 in the presence of Ni, Mn and Cu. The highest sulfate removal efficiency obtained was 98 %, at a COD/sulfate ratio of 2.0. The organic acid analyses indicated an acetate accumulation as a consequence of lactate degradation. Different concentrations of metals were added to the system at neutral pH conditions. Cell proliferation and sulfate consumption in the presence of nickel (4, 20 and 50 mg l^?1), manganese (1.5, 10 and 25 mg l^?1) and copper (1.5, 10 and 25 mg l^?1) were measured. The presence of metals interfered in the sulfate biological removal however the concentration of sulfide produced was high enough to remove over 90 % of the metals in the environment. The molecular characterization of the bacterial consortium based on dsrB gene sequencing indicated the presence of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Desulfomonas pigra and Desulfobulbus sp. The results here presented indicate that this SRB culture may be employed for mine effluent bioremediation due to its potential for removing sulfate and metals, simultaneously.