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Sorption of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Co, and Zn) by Bacteria of the Genus Bacillus: An Investigation of the Ability and Consequences of Bioaccumulation

Summary

Researchers studied how three types of beneficial Bacillus bacteria can remove heavy metals like lead, cadmium, zinc, and cobalt from contaminated environments. The bacteria were most effective at capturing lead, removing up to 53% of the metal from the medium. The study showed these bacteria could potentially be used as probiotic treatments to help remove toxic metals from the body or clean up polluted soil. Microscopic analysis revealed that the metals accumulate on the bacterial cell surface, causing slight changes in bacterial shape and size.

Background

Heavy metal contamination in soil and the environment poses significant health risks through bioaccumulation in food chains. Probiotic bacteria, particularly Bacillus species, have shown potential as bioaccumulators for heavy metals due to their antagonistic activity against pathogens and antitoxic effects. This study investigates the sorption capacity of three Bacillus strains for lead, cadmium, cobalt, and zinc.

Objective

The aim was to determine the sorption characteristics and bioaccumulation ability of Bacillus bacteria (B. subtilis 7048, B. licheniformis 7038, and B. clausii 11117) with respect to heavy metals (Zn, Co, Cd, and Pb) in vitro, including analysis of growth inhibition and morphological changes.

Results

All three Bacillus strains actively accumulated lead (43.9%-53.2% of introduced salt), followed by cobalt (17%-27%), with minimal accumulation of zinc and cadmium. B. subtilis 7048 was the most efficient biosorbent for lead, while B. licheniformis 7038 accumulated the most cobalt. AFM analysis revealed morphological changes including cell size reduction and spore formation, with lead showing selective binding to bacterial surfaces.

Conclusion

Bacillus species demonstrate significant sorption potential for heavy metals, particularly lead and cobalt, through mechanisms involving complex formation with biomolecules and surface adsorption. These findings suggest probiotic Bacillus strains could be utilized for heavy metal detoxification and bioremediation, with potential applications in treating metal poisoning and green synthesis of nanoparticles.
  • Published in:International Journal of Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41019973, DOI: 10.1155/ijm/4067880
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