THE ROLE OF MICROBES IN METAL TRANSFORMATION

Irfan D. Prijambada

METAL TRANSFORMATION
OXIDATION

Metal

lower valence+

Metal

higher valence+

REDUCTION

CHARACTERS OF LOWER VALENCY METAL ION

Soluble and stable Accumulated under reductive condition Readily oxidized into its higher valence metal ion

CHARACTERS OF HIGHER VALENCY METAL ION

Soluble at lower pH Insoluble at neutral and alkaline condition

PROBLEMS REGARDING IONIC METAL

Unavailability of metal ion under oxidative condition at neutral to alkaline pH (higher valence of metal ion insoluble at neutral to alkaline pH) Toxicity of metal ion under oxidative condition at acidic pH (higher valence of metal ion soluble at acidic pH)

THE ROLE OF MICROBES IN SOLVING THE UNAVAILABILITY OF METAL ION UNDER OXIDATIVE CONDITION AT NEUTRAL TO ALKALINE PH

Local acidulation by producing acid (lowering local pH) Local reduction of higher valence metal (lower valence metal soluble at any pH) Chelation by producing chelating agent (transporting metal ion into plant without changing their valence)

LOCAL ACIDULATION BY PRODUCING ACID

Done by any kind of microbes As intermediate products of microbes metabolism

LOCAL REDUCTION OF HIGHER VALENCE METAL

Done by many kind of microbes such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Alcaligenes, Clostridia, and Enterobacteria Link to nitrate reduction system

CHELATION OF HIGHER VALENCE METAL BY PRODUCING CHELATING AGENT

Chelating agents entrapped the insoluble higher valence metals Enterobacteria produce Enterobactin and Enterochelin (derivatives of Phenol-Catechol) Streptomyces and other bacteria produce Ferrioxamine (derivatives of Hydroxamic acids) Chelating agents have multiple hydroxyl or carbonyl groups

THE ROLE OF MICROBES IN SOLVING THE TOXICITY OF METAL ION UNDER OXIDATIVE CONDITION AT ACIDIC pH

Producing carboxylic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, oxalacetic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid Carboxylic acids have a chelating capability, increasing metal content of plant (which means increasing metal absorption by the plant) without harming them

CHELATING CAPABILITY OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

Can be used to increase plant absorption of metal (for bio and phytoremediating metal polluted land)

ACCUMULATION OF LEAD IN THE ROOT OF DICOTYL

Plants

Brassica juncea B. oleracea Helianthus annuus Nicotiana tabacum Spinacea oleracea

Lead Accumulated in the Root (mg/g) 136

134 140 132 95

ACCUMULATION OF LEAD IN THE ROOT OF MONOCOTYL

Plants Lead Accumulated in the Root (mg/g)
136 134 140

Secale cereale Sorghum bicolor Zea mays

ACCUMULATION OF LEAD IN THE ROOT OF WINTER GRASSES AND SHRUBS

Plants Lead Accumulated in the Root (mg/g)
169 146 142 165 100 134 125 86 85 60

Agrostis tenuis A. palustris Eragrostis curvula Poa pratensis P. trivialis Lolium perenne Festuca ovina F. Rubra F. Arundinacea Dactilys glomerata

ACCUMULATION OF LEAD IN THE ROOT OF SUMMER GRASSES AND SHRUBS

Plants Lead Accumulated in the Root (mg/g)
124 118 116 109 90

Eremochloa ophiuroides Buchloe dactyloides Panicum virgatum P. Amarum Cynodon dactylon

Zoysia japonica

56

OTHER ROLE OF MICROBES IN REDUCING METAL POLLUTION

Absorbing metal ion by utilizing functional groups exist in the cell wall
INTERACTION IONIC POLAR MACROMOLECULES Phosphomannan Polysaccharides, Chitin, Chitosan FUNCTIONAL GROUPS Phosphates Hydroxyls, Aminos, Carboxyls

COMBINATION
MINERAL

Proteins
Anion Polymers

Aminos, Hydroxyls, Amides, Carboxyls, Thiols

Phosphates, Carboxylic acids

STRONG-WEAK ANION-CATHION INTERACTION (According to Lewis)

Strong Cathion
H+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Al3+, Fe3+, Co3+, As3+, Cr3+

Medium Cathion
Pb2+, Zn2+, Al2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+

Weak Cathion
Cu+, Ag+, Au+, Ti+, Hg2+, Cd+

Strong Anion
OH-, F-, Cl-, PO43-, SO42-, CO32-, O2-, CO2-

Medium Anion
Br-, NO2-, SO32-

Weak Anion
SH-, S2-, RS-, CN-, SCN-, CO, R2S, RSH

METAL ABSORPTION BY MICROBES

Uranium is absorbed by the cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Aspergillus niger Thorium is absorbed by the cells of R. arrhizus, and A. niger Mercury is absorbed by the cells of S.

cerevisiae

METAL ABSORBING MICROBES

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Aspergillus niger ALGAE: Chlorella pyrenoidosa, C. vulgaris, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Stichococcus bacillaris, Chlamydomonas reinharti, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Ascopenyellum sp., and Sargassum sp.