Reduction of hexavalent cromium by Serratia marcecens immobilized on active carbon and their potencial use in bioremediation. Reducción de cromo hexavalente, por Serratia marcecens inmobilizada en carbon activado y su potencial uso en biorremediacion.

RESUMEN S. marcescens , cepa tolerante a cromato, presenta la capacidad de formar biopeliculas y transformar el 95 % de cromato presente en el medio a Cr(III), compuesto menos toxico, despues de 48h de incubacion, a una velocidad de transformacion de 1.67 mg L -1 h -1 . S. marcescens puede ser utilizado en biorremediation de residuos contaminados con cromato. Chromium pollution due to wastewater discharges from manufacturing and domestic activities may pose a serious threat to human health and environmental quality (Campos et al. 2002). Indeed, Cr(VI) has been identifi ed as a key contaminant due to its toxicity (Park et al. 2002). Biological reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) is an attractive alternative to treat chromium contaminated effl uents and soils, since the latter presents much lower toxicity (McLean & Beveridge 2001). A number of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria presenting chromate reducing enzymatic ability have been identifi ed (Shanker et al . 2005).In particular, chromate-resistant