REMOVAL OF CADMIUM AND LEAD BY ADAPTED STRAINS OF Pseudomonas aeruginosa AND Enterobacter cloacae

摘要

This study determined the cadmium and lead (Cd and Pb) biosorption of two bacterial strains identified with molecular techniques as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae . These species were isolated from domestic wastewater and adapted to a maximum of 2.83 and 17.4 mg/L of Cd and Pb, respectively. Cd sorption by both strains, determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, ranged from 14.4 to 16.5 %. However, the difference between strains was not significant. P. aeruginosa and E. cloacae were comparatively more efficient in the sorption of Pb (82.47and 72.16 % respectively) than for Cd. The amount of Pb absorbed by the bacterial biomass was significantly higher in P. aeruginosa than in E. cloacae cultures.