Heavy Metal Bioprecipitation. Use of Sulfate-Reducing Microorganisms

WILLIS PORATTI G.; DONATI E.R.

Heavy Metals in the Environment: Microorganisms and Bioremediation

Taylor & Francis Group

Año: 2018; p. 114 - 130

Heavy metal contamination due to natural and anthropogenic sources is now of a global environmental concern. The treatment of contaminated effluents using chemical products to precipitate metals presents some serious limitations in terms of applications and effectiveness. They usually result in production of mixture and unstable metal hydroxides and carbonates, which also lead to a greater disposal expense. Metal sulfides are much stable due to their very low solubility and less volume than metal oxides and carbonates. Sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) can be used as an inexpensive sulfides source, to be used in the precipitation of metals from contaminated waters. In this chapter, we describe the potential technology using such microorganisms, their advantages and limitations based on different recent reports. Finally, a case study of Cr and Cd precipitation using SRM consortia isolated from extremophilic environment which was developed in our labs is discussed in detail.