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Nickel, manganese and copper removal by a mixed consortium of sulfate reducing bacteria at a high COD/sulfate ratio

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Abstract

The use of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in passive treatments of acidic effluents containing heavy metals has become an attractive alternative biotechnology. Treatment efficiency may be linked with the effluent conditions (pH and metal concentration) and also to the amount and nature of the organic substrate. Variations on organic substrate and sulfate ratios clearly interfere with the biological removal of this ion by mixed cultures of SRB. This study aimed to cultivate a mixed culture of SRB using different lactate concentrations at pH 7.0 in the presence of Ni, Mn and Cu. The highest sulfate removal efficiency obtained was 98 %, at a COD/sulfate ratio of 2.0. The organic acid analyses indicated an acetate accumulation as a consequence of lactate degradation. Different concentrations of metals were added to the system at neutral pH conditions. Cell proliferation and sulfate consumption in the presence of nickel (4, 20 and 50 mg l−1), manganese (1.5, 10 and 25 mg l−1) and copper (1.5, 10 and 25 mg l−1) were measured. The presence of metals interfered in the sulfate biological removal however the concentration of sulfide produced was high enough to remove over 90 % of the metals in the environment. The molecular characterization of the bacterial consortium based on dsrB gene sequencing indicated the presence of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Desulfomonas pigra and Desulfobulbus sp. The results here presented indicate that this SRB culture may be employed for mine effluent bioremediation due to its potential for removing sulfate and metals, simultaneously.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support for this work provided by Vale, Finep, CNPq, and FAPEMIG is gratefully appreciated. Authors wish also to thank to the “Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto” and CAPES for the undergraduate and graduate students scholarships. The authors owe special thanks to Dr. R. Afonso for his collaboration and technical supporting during organic acid analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Rua Costa Sena, 171, Ouro Preto, MG, CEP 35400-000, Brazil

    L. P. Barbosa, P. F. Costa, J. C. C. Silva, R. Guerra-Sá & M. C. Teixeira

  2. Núcleo de Valorização de Materiais Minerais, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Rua Costa Sena, 171, Ouro Preto, MG, CEP 35400-000, Brazil

    S. M. Bertolino, J. C. C. Silva, R. Guerra-Sá & V. A. Leão

Authors
  1. L. P. Barbosa
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  2. P. F. Costa
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  3. S. M. Bertolino
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  4. J. C. C. Silva
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  5. R. Guerra-Sá
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  6. V. A. Leão
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  7. M. C. Teixeira
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Correspondence to M. C. Teixeira.

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Barbosa, L.P., Costa, P.F., Bertolino, S.M. et al. Nickel, manganese and copper removal by a mixed consortium of sulfate reducing bacteria at a high COD/sulfate ratio. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 30, 2171–2180 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-013-1592-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-013-1592-x

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