Open AccessIsolation and characterization of a manganese‐oxidizing bacterium from a biofiltration system for the treatment of borehole water in K wa Z ulu‐ N atal ( S outh A frica)
Author(s) -
Beukes Lorika S.,
Schmidt Stefan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.201100153
Subject(s) - manganese , biofilm , oxidizing agent , chemistry , strain (injury) , sulfate , nuclear chemistry , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , organic chemistry , genetics , anatomy
Using minimal salts medium containing vitamins and pyruvate ( MSVP ) plus added manganese sulfate, a manganese (II) oxidizing bacterial strain was isolated from water samples of a biofiltration system treating borehole water in K wa Z ulu‐ N atal, S outh A frica. The nonmotile G ram‐negative and oxidase‐negative isolate was subsequently characterized microbiologically. Based on its morphological and physiological characteristics and on the analysis of its 16 S r RNA gene sequence, the isolate was assigned to the genus A cinetobacter . Growth of the isolated strain in MSVP with added manganese sulfate gave rise to a drop in p H and a concomitant increase in oxidation–reduction potential, which was absent in controls, thus indicating manganese oxidation. The ability of A cinetobacter sp. strain LB 1 to oxidize M n (II) was further verified using the leucoberbelin blue dye assay as well as by energy dispersive X‐ray analysis of crystals formed in the medium. In addition, a biofilm assay indicated that this isolate can attach to solid surfaces such as a biofilter matrix, thus confirming its potential for biotechnological applications in the area of water purification.