Influence of Zn(II) stress-induction on component variation and sorption performance of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Bacillus vallismortis

Bacillus vallismortis (B. vallismortis), an aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, was screened in a laboratory pilot study, to assess the interaction between the heavy metal Zn(II) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The influence of Zn(II) stress on EPS production, component variation, and sorption performance, was investigated. The characteristics of B. vallismortis EPS formed under stress were analyzed using FTIR, 3D-EEM and XPS. EPS was used as an adsorbent and the adsorption capacity and adsorption behavior of EPS formed with and without Zn(II) stress, were compared and assessed. Results showed that the production of polysaccharides and proteins, the main components of EPS, were promoted under Zn(II) stress. The types of EPS functional groups observed remained the same with and without heavy metal stress, but their concentrations were increased. Due to stress-induction, the adsorption capacity of Zn-EPS was significantly enhanced compared with the control-EPS. Specific EPS produced by B. vallismortis in the presence of Zn(II) stress, could have a wide range of potential applications, allowing optimization and improvement of the capacity of EPS to remove heavy metals from effluent.