Microbial Assisted Reduction of Lead by River Isolate

The present study deals with isolation and identification of heavy metal lead reducing microorganism from Mula-Mutha river, Pune, India. A strain was characterized based on its morphological and biochemical screening test. It was confirmed as Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 by MALDI-TOF and 16S rRNA sequencing. The selected isolate successful in reducing lead up to 500 ppm. It showed maximum reduction potential up to 89 % in supernatant and 88% in pellet. The reduction of lead by that isolate was estimated by using atomic absorption spectroscopic studies. The isolate showed extracellular as well as intracellular bioaccumulation mechanism for the reduction of lead.