Potency of Indigenous Bacteria of Mt. Merapi, Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus for Chromium (VI) Bioremediation

Abstract

Chromium (VI) in the production process, such as textile, tannery, and electroplating industry, produce hazardous waste when disposed of directly into the aquatic environment. Several chromium pollutions cases, not only in water but also in the aquatic organism, occurred in some regions in Indonesia. Various methods can reduce the Chromium (VI) waste. One of them is the biological method by employing such kinds of bacteria. Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus is a pioneer bacterium of Mt. Merapi, which can survive in the minimum conditions of the bacterial primary nutrients, carbon, and nitrogen. This study aims to investigate the ability of A. chlorophenolicus to remove Cr (VI) at various concentrations. The research was carried out by growing the A. chlorophenolicus into two nutrient media conditions, minimal and rich-nutrient media containing different concentrations of Cr (VI) (5, 10, 20 ppm) for eight days. The results showed that the A. chlorophenolicus were grown on both minimal and rich-nutrient media. The A. chlorophenolicus could reduce for about 80% of 10 and 20 ppm chromium in eight days. Our results indicate that A. chlorophenolicus, the pioneer bacteria of Mt. Merapi, has a grand promise for use in Cr (VI) remediation even under minimum nutrients conditions.