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Palladium recovery as nanoparticles by an anaerobic bacterial community
Author(s) -
Martins Mónica,
Assunção Ana,
Martins Hélio,
Matos António Pedro,
Costa Maria Clara
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4064
Subject(s) - palladium , bacteria , microbial population biology , metal , chemistry , 16s ribosomal rna , aqueous solution , bacteroides , citrobacter , nuclear chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental chemistry , biology , catalysis , enterobacteriaceae , organic chemistry , biochemistry , gene , genetics , escherichia coli
BACKGROUND Bio‐recovery of metals from dilute industrial waste using bacteria is a promising alternative to primary raw material resources. Therefore, the search for and identification of palladium resistant bacteria with the ability to remove that metal from solutions is very important. The main goal of this study was to find a palladium( II ) resistant bacterial community able to bio‐recover this metal from solution.RESULTS A palladium( II ) resistant bacterial community able to precipitate that metal from the growth medium was obtained from a sludge sample from a municipal waste water treatment plant. This community was able to remove 60% of palladium( II ) from an aqueous solution containing 18 mg L ‐1 of Pd( II ) and 43% in the presence of 26 mg L ‐1 Pd( II ) plus sulphate. TEM‐EDS analysis showed the presence of nanosized palladium deposits in the surface of cells. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that this community was mainly composed of bacteria closely related to several Clostridium species. However, bacteria affiliated to genera Bacteroides and Citrobacter were also present in the community.CONCLUSION The current study for the first time reports the bio‐recovery of Pd( II ) as nanoparticles by a bacterial consortium, and is a relevant demonstration of the biotechnological potentialities of this community. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry