Effect ofbacillus megateriumon removal of copper from aqueous solutions by activated carbon

Bacterial exopolymers are known to be efficient in banding metals and could influence the adsorption of copper by activated carbon. A gram positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium is found to be responsible for removing a high quantity of Cu from aqueous solutions. Resting bacterial cells of B. megaterium can remove up to 39.1 mg of Cu per g of cell dry weight. Almost total removal of Cu was achieved with the bacteria in combination with activated carbon up to a Cu concentration of 100 m.g/l. Growing bacterial cells are found to have a synergistic effect on the adsorption of cu by activated carbon.