The resistance of locally isolated Serratia marcescensto heavy metals chlorides and optimization ofsome environmental factors

Abstract

Sahar K. Alzubaidy

The aim of thisstudy is the evaluation the resistance of S. marcescence obtained from soil and water to metals chlorides (Zn+2, Hg+2, Fe+2, Al+3, and Pb+2). Four isolates, identified as Serratia marcescence and S. marcescena (S4) were selected for this study according to their resistance to five heavy metals. The ability of S. marcescena (S4) to grow in different concentrations of metals chloride (200-1200 μg/ml) was tested; the highest concentration that S. marcescence (S4) tolerate was 1000 μg/ml for Zn+2, Hg+2, Fe+2, AL+3, pb+2 and 300 μg/ml for Hg+2 through 24 hrs incubation at 37 Co. The effects of temperature and pH on bacteria growth during 72 hrs were also studied. S. marcescence (S4) was affected by ZnCl2, PbCl2, FeCl2, and AlCl3 during 24 hrs, while mercury causes no bacterial growth. S. marcescence (S4) showed growth in temperature range of 30-50 Co in presence of 4 metals. The isolates showed the ability to grow in different pH values (4, 7 and 9) in presence of four metals in all pH values (1000 μg/ml) and un-ability to grow with 300 μg/ml Hg+2. The highest Zn+2 removal ratio was 75% then Pb+2 55% while Fe+2 has the lowest removal ratio (48%). The study was conducted in the central lab of College of sciences/University of Baghdad/Iraq in 2011-2012. It was conclude that the identified heavy metal resistant bacteria could be useful for bioremediation of heavy metals in the contaminated soil and water