BIOLOGICAL CHROMIUM REDUCTION AT LOW pH: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Chromium (Cr +6 ) tolerant acidophilic bacteria were isolated from tanneries' effluents, optimized for growth conditions and biochemically characterized. Two of the isolates were assessed for their Cr +6 reduction potential. It was found that the isolates No. 22 and 25 efficiently reduced 750 µg Cr +6 /ml of the medium within 4 days of incubation. These bacteria can be considered important for bioremediation of metal rich acidic environments or industrial effluents. These microbes may play role for developing new strategies for remediation of heavy metals' polluted wastewaters characterized by low pH.