Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions by Growing and Non-growing Populations of Environmental Bacterial Consortia

Abstract

Abstract: An environmental bacterial mixed culture, Consortia Culture (CC), was employed in this study to assess and demonstrate the extent of Cr(VI) reduction and uptake by cells at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1 1 100 mg L. Growing (active) cells of CC displayed higher overall mean Cr uptake (50.74 mg g DW), with 1 1 1 1 elevated mean Cr reduction (0.1021-1.5379 mg g h) and accumulation rate of 0.1988-3.0873 mg g h compared to non-growing (inactive) cells over a period of 96 h. Removal of Cr from the culture medium by CC appears to be attributed to accumulation or cellular uptake rather than reduction to Cr(III). Key words: Chromium Bacterial consortium Heavy metal