Uptake of lead by bacteria isolated from industrial effluents and their potential use in bioremediation of wastewater

Due to rising populations and human activities, heavy metals (HM) toxicity has become a serious problem for all life forms. The present study deals with isolating and identifying lead-resistant bacteria from contaminated wastewater of tanneries effluents. Two isolated strains were identified as Bacillus cereus (ID1), and Bacillus sp. (ID3), and both strains resisted a 25 mM concentration of Lead nitrate (Pb (NO(3))(2)). After four days of treatment, Bacillus cereus (ID1) showed 80% lead uptake, and Bacillus sp. (ID3) showed 88%. Lead uptake was confirmed by Energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that structural alterations had occurred in functional groups of the treated samples compared to the controls. Our research indicates that these Bacillus strains may be useful in bioremediating heavy metals from polluted environments. Further investigation into the processes involved in the uptake and homeostasis of heavy metals by these strains is required, as is the identification of the genes and enzymes responsible for Pb-bioremediation.