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Biosorption and Bioreduction of Copper from Different Copper Compounds in Aqueous Solution

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Abstract

High copper concentration is toxic for living organisms including humans. Biosorption is a bioremediation technique that can remove copper and other pollutants from aqueous medium and soils, consequently cleaning the environment. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the influence of different copper compounds (Cu(II) as CuCl2; Cu(II) as CuSO4; and Cu(I) as CuCl) on copper bioreduction and biosorption using four copper-resistant bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of two plants (Avena sativa and Plantago lanceolata) in aqueous matrix. Copper resistance profile, bioreduction, and biosorption after 48 h of incubation were evaluated. The isolates displayed high copper resistance. However, isolate A1 did not grow very well in the CuCl2 and isolate T5 was less resistant to copper in aqueous solutions amended with CuCl (Cu(I)). The best copper source for copper bioreduction and biosorption was CuSO4 and the isolates removed as much as ten times more copper than in aqueous solutions amended with the other copper compounds. Moreover, Cu(I) did not succumb to biosorption, although the microbes were resistant to aqueous solutions of CuCl. In summary, Cu(II) from CuSO4 was furthermost susceptible to bioreduction and biosorption for all isolates. This is an indication that copper contamination of the environment from the use of CuSO4 as an agrochemical is amenable to bioremediation.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) for a scholarship award and to the Biology Department (Auburn University at Montgomery) for the opportunity to conduct a part of my PhD research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Engineering, Federal University of Pelotas, 1734 Almirante Barroso, 96010-208, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

    Robson Andreazza

  2. Department of Biology, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL, USA

    Robson Andreazza & Benedict C. Okeke

  3. Department of Technology and Food Microbiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Simone Pieniz

  4. Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 7712 Bento Gonçalves Ave, 91541-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Fátima M. Bento & Flávio A. O. Camargo

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  1. Robson Andreazza
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  2. Benedict C. Okeke
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  3. Simone Pieniz
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  4. Fátima M. Bento
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  5. Flávio A. O. Camargo
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Correspondence to Robson Andreazza.

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Andreazza, R., Okeke, B.C., Pieniz, S. et al. Biosorption and Bioreduction of Copper from Different Copper Compounds in Aqueous Solution. Biol Trace Elem Res 152, 411–416 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9625-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9625-8

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