Heavy-Metal Tolerance of the Paecilomyces sp. BJKD1 Isolated from Coal Gangue

Microorganisms can be the important biosorbents for heavy metal remediation of contaminated soils or wastewater. A BJKD1 strain isolated from coal gangue piles was identified as a member of the Paecilomyces sp., which can tolerate to 3200 mg/L Cd2+. Favorable condition for BJKD1 growth was at pH 4.0-9.0. The presence of heavy metals, such as 36 mmol/L Cd2+, 1 mmol/L Cu2+, 80 mmol/L Zn2+, 7 mmol/L Ni2+ and 100 mmol/L Mn2+, retarded the growth of BJKD1, however, BJKD1 showed more tolerance for Mn2+. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD ) and Catalase (CAT ) in BJKD1 was increased under high metals concentration, indicated BJKD1 has the potential for biological repair of heavy metal pollution in coal gangue piles.