Potential of mercury-tolerant bacteria for bio-uptake of mercury leached from discarded fluorescent lamps.

Abstract In this study, ten bacterial strains were found to be mercury resistant after their isolation from Qatari coastal sediments. Tolerance was found to be up to 100–150 ppm for five strains. Those strains had optimum growth conditions at salinity level of 10 ppm NaCl and pH 7–8. Starting from a concentration 7.9 ppm of mercury extracted from fluorescent lamps and after 6 days of incubation at 37 °C, two isolated strains HA6 (Bacillus spp.) and HA9 (Acinetobacter sp.) showed 96.7% and 98.9% of mercury bio-uptake efficiency, respectively. Other strains were capable of removing more than 60% of extracted mercury. Highlights • Bacillus spp. and Acinetobacter sp. showed 96.7% and 98.9% Hg removal. • Other strains were capable of removing more than 60% of extracted mercury. • Almost all strain exhibited the highest growth density at pH level between 7 and 8. • Acinetobacter sp. was able to be tolerant up to 200 ppm of mercury. • Such strains can be applied in bioremediation of highly mercury-polluted areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]