Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a widespread environmental contaminant. Achromobacter sp. strain Chi was a Cr(VI) reducing bacterium with high reduction performance. Cr(VI) reductase was just existing in the cells, but was not discharged into the surrounding medium. Cr(VI) reduction was carried out with resting cells of strain Ch1 under anaerobic conditions. Initial pH value and lactate (electron donor) concentration were found to influence the reduction rate of Cr(VI), and the optimal conditions were at pH 9.0 and supplemented with 40 mM of lactate. The reduction rate would be constant under established conditions approximately 12.5 micromol 10(9) cells(-1) min(-1), which was not affected by cell density and initial Cr(VI) concentration. The maximal reduction capacity of Achromobacter sp. strain Ch1 was 54.2 mM, while the cell density of reduction system was 3.64 x 10(9) cells ml(-1). Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed that chromium was precipitated perhaps as the form of Cr(OH)3.
In recent years, more and more attentions are put on the remediation of Cr(VI) contamination with chromate resistant bacteria. Leucobacter sp. CRB1 was a novel chromate reducing bacteria isolated from the soil of chromite ore processing residue (COPR) disposal site in Changsha, China. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the Cr(VI) tolerance of Leucobacter sp. CRB1 as well as its tolerant mechanism, and Cr(VI) reduction ability. The results showed that Leucobacter sp. CRB1 was able to tolerate 4,000 mg/l of hexavalent chromium with 34.5% reduction efficiency. At the optimum pH 9.0, the maximum concentration of chromate be reduced completely was 1,818 mg/l in growing cells and 2,100 mg/l in resting cells. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) showed that extracellular Cr(VI) reduction of Leucobacter sp. CRB1 contributed to its high tolerance and high reduction ability. With repeating spiking, 2,490 mg/l hexavalent chromium was reduced totally within 17 h. The results suggest Leucobacter sp. CRB1 has potential application for remediation of high concentration of Cr(VI) contamination.
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