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Evaluation of physio-biochemical potentials of alkaliphilic bacterial diversity in bauxite processing residues of diverse restoration history

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Abstract

Bauxite residue, the waste by-product of bauxite ore processing in alumina industry is mostly deposited around the areas of alumina plants and often leads to a number of environmental and human health problems. Here we report the physico-chemical and microbiological analysis of bauxite residue samples of different restoration history (0–40 years). The samples were characterized by high alkalinity (pH 8.5–12.5) and metal content along with poor organic matter. While the presence of Sodalite, Hematite, Boehmite, Gibbsite, Anatase and Quartz was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, heavy metal contamination was evaluated by applying contamination factor and pollution load index. The aerobic microbial density as well as activity of the samples were in general very low and ranged from 1.2 to 8.96 × 102 cfu/g and 0.32–0.96 µg fluorescein/g/h. A total of 12 phenotypically distinguishable bacteria were isolated in pure form which showed significant tolerance to nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg) and lead (Pb), high pH and NaCl and were resistant to a number of antibiotics. Further, tolerance to alkalinity, transformation of waste to neutral one, production of diverse enzymes, extracellular polysaccharide and formation of biofilm, the unique features of these bacterial isolates could be of immense importance for potential applications in bioremediation and bioleaching.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Alumina plant, Muri for providing logistic support in sample collection and to Dr. C. Sinha of Central Glass and Ceramics Research Institute, Jadavpur for extending support in some analytical work.

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  1. Department of Botany, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya, Ajodhya, Shyampur, Howrah, West Bengal, 711312, India

    Satarupa Dey

  2. Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India

    A. K. Paul

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Dey, S., Paul, A.K. Evaluation of physio-biochemical potentials of alkaliphilic bacterial diversity in bauxite processing residues of diverse restoration history. Environmental Sustainability 4, 155–169 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-020-00152-8

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