Bioremediation of iron and manganese heavy metal polluted soil by mixed culture of Acetobacter tropicalis and Lactobacillus fermentum

Abstract

The research aim was to determine the growth response of mixed cultures of Acetobacter tropicalis and Lactobacillus fermentum in Stone Mineral Salt solutions (SMSs) and soil containing Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in controlled batches. The first stage was the cultivation in SMSs followed by preparation of the pollutant source and sensitivity test. The second phase was the removal of heavy metals from iron and manganese in AMD by mixed bacterial cultures in SMSs with the contact time for 48, 96, 144, 192 hours, and pH 2, 3, 5, 7. The third stage was the removal on soil media with the same contact time. Research result showed that the sensitivity test of bacterium was resistant to heavy metals iron and manganese. The highest removal efficiency of iron and manganese was 94.89% at a contact time of 96 hours, while the highest removal efficiency at pH 7 was 93.79%. The removal of iron and manganese heavy metals on soil had a removal efficiency of 69.91% at a contact time of 144 hours. This study showed that a mixed culture of Acetobacter tropicalis and Lactobacillus fermentum could be an effective bacterium in removing heavy metals from iron and manganese in AMD-contaminated soil.