Isolation and Characterization of Siderophores Producing Chemolithotrophic Bacteria from the Coal Samples of the Aluminum Industry

Siderophores are iron grabbers and are classified according to the ligands used to chelate the ferric iron. The role of siderophores is to scavenge iron and make it accessible to the cell. It has crucial applications in industries, medical, research, and environmental clean-up. In the current research work, the authors attempted to isolate and characterize a few siderophores producing bacteria from the coal samples, collected from the Bharat Aluminum Company Ltd. Chhattisgarh. The quantitative and qualitative assay for siderophores producing bacteria (SPB) was carried by Chrome Azurol Sulfonate agar test for all the ten samples and positive results were observed only in two strains, i.e., B6 and B7 when grown in iron-deficient succinate medium in an incubator shaker for 48 h at 120 rpm. The biochemical tests revealed that the B6 and B7 strains have similarities to Bacillus sp. and Vibrio sp., respectively. The study reflects the potential of these strains as effective siderophores producers and holds a noteworthy perspective in further industrial and research applications.