Abstract

HEAVY METAL DEGRADATION BY ISOLATED PSEUDOMONAS SPECIES

*Mukherjee Arpita and 2Chandrakar Khushbu

ABSTRACT

Soil is enriched with different varieties of microorganisms. This includes beneficial and harmful categories of microorganism. Many human driven activities & disposals of Industries, agriculture and Sewage contribute to heavy metal accumulation. As heavy metals like chromium are highly permeable to cell membrane will affect the human heath being carcinogenic and toxic. Bacterial species has been isolated from soil sample. Microbial testing has been performed. The isolated species has been observed to be fluorescent colonies on King’s medium and interpreted as Pseudomonas species. This species have the ability to degrade aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and other environmental pollutants. It can be used in bioremediation. The present work reported the potency of Pseudomonas spp in degrading heavy metals like Chromium, Lead and Zinc. Maximum degradation potency was observed by plate diffusion method. Maximum zone of inhibition (Measured in Diameter) was observed to be in Chromium while minimum in Lead of 1.16 mm & 0.74 mm respectively. Thus Pseudomonas species can be effectively used in bioremediation.

Keywords: Pseudomonas Spp., king’s Medium, Chromium, Lead, Zinc, Bioremediation.