Abstract

BIOREMEDIATION OF CHROMIUM BY ASPERGILLUS FUMIGATUS

P. Kalyani, K. Sunanda Kumari, Ch. C. Sailaja Lakshmi and K.P.J. Hemalatha*

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is nowadays one of the most important environmental concerns. Anthropogenic activities like metalliferous mining and smelting, agriculture, waste disposal or industry discharge a variety of metals such as Ag, As, Au, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rd, Sn, Th, U and Zn, which can produce harmful effects on human health when they are taken up in amounts that cannot be processed by the organism. In this present study, Aspergillus fumigatus were identified and inoculated with chromium to analyse the capability of those microorganism in bioremediation. The results revealed that chromium level decreased in culture media. It was also observed that Aspergillus fumigatus removes the chromium at high rate.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Bioremediation, Aspergillus fumigatus.