Bacteria isolation and bioremedation of heavy metal in sediment of coastal area

Abstract

Coastal area sediments are normally contaminated with heavy metals resulted from the anthropogenic activities that occurs daily such as boat and ferries activities. The types of heavy metals that are identified in the sediment are Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Titanium (Ti), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni) and Arsenic (As). Heavy metals cannot be degrade but can be transform from toxic to less toxic form. These transformation can be done from bioremediation process. Bioremediation is the process of the uses of bacteria or microorganism to reduce the heavy metal contamination in the polluted medium. The main objectives of this project is to reduce the concentration of Cr, Cu and Ni by using the bacteria isolated from the sediment. The reduction of these three metals we observed by the different bacterial concentration and time contact. Besides that, the study is also will make the comparison of the efficiency of reducing heavy metals between Bacillus sp. and Coccus sp. Both of the microbes have the ability to reduce heavy metals in the sediment. The highest percentage of heavy metal reduction is the Cu by Bacillus sp. Cu reducing percentage after 10 days of treatment is 85%. Cr and Ni removal are 22% and 17% respectively. Meanwhile Coccus sp. reduce 32% of Cu and 16% for both Cr and Ni. Besides, the higher the bacterial suspension and longer the time contact added to the treatment sample, the higher the percentage of heavy metals reduction.