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Potential of Marine-Derived Fungi to Remove Hexavalent Chromium Pollutant from Culture Broth

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Abstract

Chromium (Cr) released from industrial units such as tanneries, textile and electroplating industries is detrimental to the surrounding ecosystems and human health. The focus of the present study was to check the Cr(VI) removal efficiency by marine-derived fungi from liquid broth. Amongst the three Cr(VI) tolerant isolates, #NIOSN-SK56-S19 (Aspergillus sydowii) showed Cr-removal efficiency of 0.01 mg Cr mg−1 biomass resulting in 26% abatement of total Cr with just 2.8 mg of biomass produced during the growth in 300 ppm Cr(VI). Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed aggregation of mycelial biomass with exopolysaccharide, while Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy showed the presence of Cr2O3 inside the biomass indicating presence of active Cr(VI) removal mechanisms. This was further supported when the Cr(VI) removal was monitored using DPC (1,5-diphenylcarbazide) method. The results of this study point to the potential of marine-derived fungal isolates for Cr(VI) removal.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is thankful to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the fellowship (Ref No.: 18-12/2011(ii)EU-V). All the authors are thankful to Head, BOD and Director, CSIR-NIO for the facilities. The studies were funded through the Project PSC0206. The authors are thankful to Mr. Areef Sardar for carrying out SEM and EDS analysis. This work is part of the doctoral thesis to be submitted to Goa University in Department of Microbiology. The manuscript is NIO contribution No. 6186.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India

    Nikita P. Lotlikar, Samir R. Damare & Ram Murti Meena

  2. Geological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403004, India

    P. Linsy & Brenda Mascarenhas

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Correspondence to Samir R. Damare.

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Lotlikar, N.P., Damare, S.R., Meena, R.M. et al. Potential of Marine-Derived Fungi to Remove Hexavalent Chromium Pollutant from Culture Broth. Indian J Microbiol 58, 182–192 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-018-0719-z

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