Multimetal bioremediation and biomining by a combination of new aquatic strains of Mucor hiemalis. 2019

Enamul Hoque, and Johannes Fritscher
Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Institute of Groundwater Ecology, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany. hoque@helmholtz-muenchen.de.

Here we describe a unique microbial biotechnology for simultaneous bioremediation and biomining of twelve ionic metals overcoming the obstacles of multimetal toxicity to microbes. After a thorough search of key microorganisms in microbiomes of many sulfidic springs in Bavaria (Germany) over an area of 200 km2, we found three new strains EH8, EH10 and EH11 of Mucor hiemalis physiologically compatible and capable of multimetal-remediation and enrichment. We combined the multimetal-resistance, hyper-accumulation and elicitation power of EH8, EH10 and EH11 to develop a novel biotechnology for simultaneous removal, fractionation and enrichment of metal ions. As a first step we showed the intracellular fixing and deposition of mercury as nanospheres in EH8's sporangiospores. Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy-Dispersive X-Ray analysis revealed binding and precipitation of other applied metal ions as spherical nano-particles (~50-100 nm) at the outer electro-negative cellwall-surface of EH8, EH10 and EH11 sporangiospores. Microbiomes, germinated spores and dead insoluble cellwalls of these strains removed >81-99% of applied Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn simultaneously and furthermore enriched precious Ag, Au and Ti from water all within 48 h, demonstrating the potential of new biotechnologies for safe-guarding our environment from metal pollution and concentrating precious diluted, ionic metals.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009089 Mucor A genus of zygomycetous fungi of the family Mucoraceae, order Mucorales. It is primarily saprophytic, but may cause MUCORMYCOSIS in man from spores germinating in the lungs. Mucors
D002473 Cell Wall The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents. Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D005858 Germany A country in central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. The capital is Berlin.
D001673 Biodegradation, Environmental Elimination of ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS; PESTICIDES and other waste using living organisms, usually involving intervention of environmental or sanitation engineers. Bioremediation,Phytoremediation,Natural Attenuation, Pollution,Environmental Biodegradation,Pollution Natural Attenuation
D013170 Spores The reproductive elements of lower organisms, such as BACTERIA; FUNGI; and cryptogamic plants. Spore
D014874 Water Pollutants, Chemical Chemical compounds which pollute the water of rivers, streams, lakes, the sea, reservoirs, or other bodies of water. Chemical Water Pollutants,Landfill Leachate,Leachate, Landfill,Pollutants, Chemical Water
D019216 Metals, Heavy Metals with high specific gravity, typically larger than 5. They have complex spectra, form colored salts and double salts, have a low electrode potential, are mainly amphoteric, yield weak bases and weak acids, and are oxidizing or reducing agents (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Heavy Metal,Heavy Metals,Metal, Heavy

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