LEAD AND CADMIUM DETOXIFICATION BY HALOPHILIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SOLAR SALTERNS IN LEBANON

Authors

Nadine G. Zmorrod N. G. Zmorrod, PhD Candidate , Faculty of Science , Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Nawal Al Hakawati, Assistant Professor, Beirut Arab University (BAU), Faculty of Science, Biological Sciences Department, Beirut, Lebanon.Follow
Ranya A. Amer, Professor, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications (SRTA-City), GEBRI, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Alexandria, Egypt.Follow
Hoda H. Yusef, Professor, University of Alexandria, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Alexandria, Egypt.Follow

Keywords

Lead, Cadmium, Bioaccumulation, Halophilic bacteria, Halomonas sp.

Disciplines

Biology | Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology

Abstract

Water contamination by heavy metals has gained considerable attention globally. These inorganic pollutants can enter the aquatic environments via different routes thereby threatening biodiversity and human health. Lead and cadmium are hazardous pollutants where their removal by traditional techniques is identified to be costly and ineffective. However, bioremediation by extremophilic microorganisms is considered to be a promising technique as they have considerable potentials to grow in harsh environmental conditions. The present study deals with the isolation of halophilic bacterial isolates from solar salterns in North Lebanon. The isolate H1S9 was identified as Halomonas venusta H9 after showing tolerance to 500 mg L^-1 of lead and cadmium. Conductivity and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy showed that Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were removed by Halomonas venusta H9. Transmission Electron Microscopy demonstrated the ability of Halomonas venusta H9 biomass to bioaccumulate Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ from aqueous solution into the cells. The factors affecting the bioaccumulation process were investigated.

Recommended Citation

Zmorrod, Nadine G. N. G. Zmorrod; Al Hakawati, Nawal; Amer, Ranya A.; and Yusef, Hoda H. (2021) "LEAD AND CADMIUM DETOXIFICATION BY HALOPHILIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SOLAR SALTERNS IN LEBANON," BAU Journal - Science and Technology: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2959-331X.1032

ISSN

2959-331X