Heavy metal pollution, primarily due to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Chromium is widely used in industries such as tanning, electroplating, and dye manufacturing, which results in the discharge of toxic residues into the environment. Cr(VI) is highly soluble, mobile, and carcinogenic, making its removal from contaminated sites a pressing environmental challenge. Among various remediation strategies, bioremediation using bacteria provides a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable approach. This study focuses on the initial phase of a broader bioremediation project that involves developing a bacterial consortium for chromium detoxification. Here, we report the isolation, screening, and characterization of a potent chromium-tolerant bacterial isolate obtained from wastewater. Several morphologically distinct bacterial strains were isolated using selective enrichment techniques on chromium-supplemented media. The isolates were screened for their chromium tolerance and resistance levels based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Among them, two isolates exhibited exceptional resistance to Cr(VI), maintaining high (Full) growth at concentrations as high as 250 ppm. Morphological and biochemical profiling revealed distinct features, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed their identity as members of the Bacillus subtilis and Lysinibacillus macroides groups. These isolates hold promise for further development into a functional part of a microbial consortium aimed at efficient chromium bioremediation. Future work will focus on optimization studies, consortium compatibility, and real-world application trials.
Mahajan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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