A study on bioremediation of fluoride-contaminated water via a novel bacterium Acinetobacter sp. (GU566361) isolated from potable water

Abstract

Fluorosis is an agonizing and crippling disease caused by fluoride intake. In the present study, fluorinated aqueous solution was treated with three novel bacterial strains viz., Bacillus sp. (GU566359), Rheinheimera sp. (GU566360) and Acinetobacter sp. (GU566361) isolated from potable waters of Mahabubnagar, Telangana State, India to screen the competence of potential bacteria for the removal of fluoride. SPADNS colorimetric method was adapted to measure fluoride concentration in broth media. Among the three bacteria studied Acinetobacter sp., showed 57.3% fluoride absorption efficacy after 10 h of incubation. Batch optimization studies revealed that the fluoride removal was optimum at pH 7.5, 35 °C and biosorbent dose of 40 mg/100 mL. Further the physicochemical characterization studies were confirmed that, morphology and functional groups of Acinetobacter sp. is suitable for removal of fluoride and therefore be used as a potential microbial species for endemic fluoride defluoridation applications in water.