Chromium (VI) bioremoval from contaminated wastewater using Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATHA23 producing biofilm supported on clinoptilolite

More has yet to be investigated on the increased efficiency of microbes for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters. The objective was to determine the Cr (VI) bioabsorption and bioreduction ability of biofilm-producing bacteria supported on clinoptilolite from contaminated aqueous solutions. Chromium (VI)-tolerant bacteria, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATHA23, were identified by biochemical methods and 16S rDNA sequencing and were deposited in NCBI (accession number: KF680991). Preparation of clinoptilolite, bacterial growth and isolation, biofilm production including extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and Cr (VI) removal efficiency, affected by the experimental treatments, were investigated. The use of FTIR characterized clinoptilolite properties with and without biofilm in the presence and absence of Cr (IV). Higher Cr (VI) levels in the bacterial growth medium, increased EPS production with the highest value (0.171 mg L−1), produced 18 h after treating the bacteria with Cr (VI) (100 mg L−1). However, in the absence of Cr (VI), EPS significantly decreased to 0.117 mg L−1. Plackett–Burman and Taguchi statistical analyses were used to optimize the experimental treatments affecting the removal efficiency of Cr (VI). Among the anions (nitrate, sulfate, and chloride), sulfate decreased Cr removal efficiency. The absorption data were best fitted to the pseudo-second order, and the data of Cr adsorption by clinoptilolite-biofilm were also better fitted to Freundlich isotherm model. The Cr (VI) bioremediation potential of P. aeruginosa ATHA23 by the production of biofilm supported on clinoptilolite has been shown for the first time, which is of significance for the environment and the industry.