Topic Area: 1d. Enhanced Methods for Biodegradation/Biotransformation of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants

Formatted Title:

Bioremediation of Nickel Metal with ORR Consortia and Bacterial Response through Protein Expression

Background/Objectives:

Nickel (Ni) metal is one of the most commonly used heavy metals and wide spread contaminants of the environment. The main source of Ni metal is the industrial activities such as Ni batteries manufacture, mining, tanning, carpet washing and dying. Wastewater contains significant concentration of Ni metal that cannot be degraded by the conventional wastewater treatment process. High levels of Ni reduce the crop yield and quality and enter the food chain. Ni metal can trigger skin damage and respiratory system dysfunction, and show carcinogenic and mutagenic toxic effects in humans. Bioremediation can be used effectively to reduce contaminant toxicity, mobility that are harmless to human health and ecosystem. Microorganisms containmechanisms that regulate metal ion accumulation to evade metal toxicity and there are many reports about microbial resistance to metals. In this study, Ni metal remediation was investigated with the bacterial consortia isolated from Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) site. Bacterial response to the Ni metal was also evaluated with proteins expression.

Approach/Activities:

Bacterial culture was incubated with various concentrations of Ni in an incubator at 25°C with continuous rotation speed of 80 rotations per minute (RPM) for 3-4 days. The Ni metal concentration in the supernatant was measured with Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The proteins expression was studied through 4-10% SDS-PAGE gel.

Sydney Beeker

Affiliation

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(Group 1, Poster Board #85) Bioremediation of Nickel Metal with ORR Consortia and Bacterial Response through Protein Expression