ARUNAVA DAS, AMMU BAI RAO, S. K. DHINESH KANNAN, S. M. ELAVAAR KUZHALI, P. SAMPATH, J. BINDHU AND B. V. RANGANATHAN
Abstract
Chromium, a hard steel-gray metal by texture is highly resistant to oxidation, even at high temperatures. Chromium is combined with iron and oxygen in the form of chromite ore. The most stable forms of chromium are Cr (III) and Cr (VI), among this, Cr (VI) is more toxic. The present investigation is focused on identification and optimization of growth condition for the bacterial strain useful for the reduction of chromium. Waste water samples were collected from chromium contaminated site located in Tamil Nadu and processed for the analysis of chromium concentration using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Total bacterial counts were carried in an agar plate containing known concentration of chromium. The isolated bacteria were identified as Bacillus flexus by 16S rRNA gene. The optimum chromium concentration and pH for the growth of B. flexus ABR36 strain was found to be 1500ppm and 7 respectively. This paper suggested a significant 86% reduction of chromium concentration by the isolated B. flexus ABR36 strain from waste water.