Biosorption of chromium and zinc by Micrococcus varians and Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from soil.

Abstract

Chromium and Zinc biosorption by Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus varians were carried out using 1ml aliquot of 24 hours old bacterial suspensions in 50ml nutrient broth containing distintive concentration of chromium and Zinc (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 ppm) and the pH was adjusted to 7.0 incubated at 37 C with continuous shaking. The study shows that the highest biosorption rate of metal concentration was recorded by Micrococcus varians with 95.1% for Chromium and 89.0% for Zinc and the highest rate of biosorption by Staphylococcus aureus was 84.0% for Chromium and 64.0% for Zinc both on the seventh day. These findings indicates that under favourable condition Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus varians expel heavy metals (Chromium and Zinc) from the earth, with Micrococcus varians having the highest potential.