K. DAYANA AND JAYANTHI ABRAHAM
Abstract
The study focuses on screening for Pseudomonas sp for the removal of toxic heavy metals form soil samples. The soil samples were collected from petroleum contaminated sites and garden. The bacterial isolates were cultured in Kings B medium. Five types of Pseudomonas sp were isolated, three from petroleum site and two from garden soil. The isolates were identified based on morphological, sugar fermentation, enzyme activities and other biochemical characters. Pseudomonas sp were found to be resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, and kanamycin. Only one species was found to be sensitive to ceftazidime. Pseudomonas sp was capable of adsorbing Ni 96.9742%, Cr 90.8592 %, Mg 72.9952% and Zn 53.4582%, within 48 hours from the medium containing 100 mg/L of each heavy metal. The Ni level uptake by Pseudomonas sp was higher than that for Cr, Mg and Zn. Ni and Cr were more adsorbed by Pseudomonas sp isolated from garden soil. Heavy metals spiked with Mg and Zn was found to be adsorbed predominantly by Pseudomonas sp isolated from site contaminated with petroleum soil.