Development of a Microbe-Zeolite Carrier for the Effective Elimination of Heavy Metals from Seawater

• Published in: Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. 1542 - 1546
• Main Authors: Kim, In Hwa, Choi, Jin-Ha, Joo, Jeong Ock, Kim, Young-Kee, Choi, Jeong-Woo, Oh, Byung-Keun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 한국미생물·생명공학회 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Bacteria - metabolism; Cations - metabolism; Cells, Immobilized - metabolism; Chromium - metabolism; Copper - metabolism; Nickel - metabolism; Seawater - chemistry; Temperature; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Purification - methods; Zeolites; 생물학; Sulfate reducing bacteria; Desulfovibrio desulfuricans; Bioremediation; Carrier; Zeolites; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 1017-7825; 1738-8872
• DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1504.04067

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of zeolite-supported sulfatereducing bacteria (SRB) in enhancing the removal of Cu(2+), Ni(2+), and Cr(6+) in contaminated seawater. Our results show that SRB-immobilized zeolite carriers can enhance the removal of heavy metals. In addition, heavy metals were generally better removed at conditions of 37°C. Cu(2+), Ni(2+), and Cr(6+) were effectively removed by 98.2%, 90.1%, and 99.8% at 100 parts per million concentration of the heavy metals, respectively. These results indicate that SRB-zeolite carriers hold great potential for use in the removal of cationic heavy metal species from marine environment.