Electrochemical activity of the bacterial strain crlim26 coupled to the reduction of cr (vi)

Abstract

The microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an emerging technology that takes advantage from organic compounds degradation and different substrates to generate energy. Among these substrates is Cr(VI), a heavy metal classified as toxic, mutagen and carcinogenic to living organisms. Our purpose was to determine the bioelectrochemical activity, associated with bioremediation of Cr(VI) with the bacterial strain CrLIM26, for which Cr(VI) tolerance tests were carried out, by minimum inhibitory concentration, reduction assays for Cr(VI), phylogeny´s identification of the bacterial strain and determination of its capacity to produce energy during the removal of Cr(VI) in MFC. The strain was identified as Exiguobacterium acetylicum, short bacillus, Gram positive, with a 160 mg of Cr(VI)/L tolerance, 100 % metal removal in 11 h, at a concentration of 10 mg of Cr(VI)/L, with bioelectrochemical activity producing a power density of 107.34 and 89.74 μW/m2 in LB medium with and without Cr(VI) respectively. The above allows to conclude that the strain CrLIM26 of E. acetylicum can be used for treatment contaminated environments with Cr(VI) in systems associated to the generation of alternative energies in MFCs.