Removal of Heavy Metals by Indigenous Microorganisms and Identification of Gene Responsible for Remediation

Abstract The present study deals with the removal of heavy metals from solid waste disposal sites. The waste generated from the small scale industrial operations such as grinding, milling, cutting, rubbing, painting, washing are collected and dumped in open grounds. The waste containing heavy metals was found subjected to action of rain, sun and atmospheric conditions prevailing in the environment. The characterization of waste was done and indigenous microorganisms were isolated and developed as culture for remediation of selected heavy metals Fe, Cu, Cd. The microbial consortium was subjected to exposure of metals at increasing concentrations separately in a minimal salt medium using incubator shaker under controlled environmental conditions and potential microorganisms were identified for each of the selected heavy metals using 16Sr- RNA technique and bioinformatic tools. Bioremediation of heavy metals have been carried out at selected concentrations viz.25ppm, 50ppm and 100ppm indigenous potential microorganisms Klebsiallasp. MHF ENV III using shake flask incubation method. The potential organism Klebsiallasp. MHF ENV III have been found effective for bioremediation of heavy metals (Fe, Cu and Cd). Klebsiallasp. MHF ENV III being a potential microorganism for bioremediation of heavy metals has been further studied for identification of gene responsible for bioremediation