Abstract

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE HEAVY METAL RESISTANT BACTERIAL ISOLATES IN VITRO FROM INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

Yogendra Singh* and Nand Lal

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals are widespread persistent inorganic pollutants and are not easily removable from the environment and are also indestructible, unlike many other organic pollutants that can be chemically or biologically degraded, hence, heavy metals constitute a global environmental problem. Heavy metal tolerable bacteria are currently favoured for their capacity to depollute the environment and hence regarded as instruments for bioremediation of metals. This study aimed to isolate heavy metal tolerant and antibiotic sensitive and resistant bacteria from industrial Effluent from Kanpur, U.P., India, Initially, a total of 28 isolates were screened from industrial effluent of which seven isolates were selected based on high level of heavy metal and antibiotic resistances. On the basis of cultural, morphological and biochemical analysis, the isolates were authentically identified as Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. maximum microbial tolerance of Bacillus spp. (B-2) was recorded to Cr (350 μg /ml) and lowest to Cu (240 μg/ml) whereas maximum microbial tolerance of Pseudomonas spp. (P-3) was recorded to Cr (300 μg/ml, and lowest to Pb and Cu. Thus, heavy metal tolerance test isolates showed maximum microbial tolerance to Cr and minimum tolerance to Pb and Cu. This study suggests that the isolated Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. have the properties to resist a wide range of heavy metals and antibiotics.

Keywords: industrial effluent, heavy metal, Minimum inhibitory concentration, antibiotics.