ABSTRACT
Intracellular heavy metal bioaccumulation and homeostasis in bacterial cell cytosol involves low molecular weight cystein-rich metallothionein proteins which vary from 3.5 to 14 kDa. Bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS) and its possible role in bioaccumulation of Cu and Pb in a marine food chain was investigated using a partially purified and chemically characterized EPS isolated from Marinobacter sp. Bacterial cell surface biosorption of Pb+2 ions is due to various negatively charged chemical groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, and phosphate present on the bacterial cell surface. The remediation of Pb(II) through biomineralization is observed to be a promising technique as well as an interesting phenomenon for transforming lead from mobile species into very stable minerals in the environment. Biomineralization of lead in mine tailing by Bacillus sp. The remediation of Pb(II) through biomineralization is observed to be a promising technique as well as an interesting phenomenon for transforming lead from mobile species into very stable minerals in the environment.
