Microbial Observation in Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals from the Ash Dyke of Thermal Power Plants of Chhattisgarh, India

Several mechanisms are developed by the microorganisms to tolerate few high concentrations of heavy metals. One of these mechanisms dependent upon anabolic and catabolic energy of microorganisms is the bioaccumulation of heavy metals. In present work, approximately four varieties of bacteria have been isolated from the ash dyke sample of four thermal power plants of Chhattisgarh, i.e., Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB), Korba, Thermal Power Cooperation (NTPC), Bilaspur and KSK Akaltara, Chattisgarh. Out of one hundred fifty isolates, three were capable to grow in varying concentration of heavy metals. The strains were tested for their tolerance against six different types of heavy metals dominant in the ash samples viz. Pb, Hg, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn. Their maximum resistance existed up to 0.6mM/ml of the above mentioned different metals under lab standard conditions. Three isolates are found suitable for the multiple metal resistance ability viz SM2, SM3, and SM12. These are categorized as Bacillus cereus (SM2, SM3), and Bacillus subtilis (SM12) after performing 16S rDNA sequencing.