Removal of Iron (II) by burkholderia pseudomallei in brackish environment

The activity of ship breaking is one source of iron metal pollution in coastal areas and sea water. This metallic pollution, in high concentrations, was a danger to the local organisms in the habitat. Hence, a means of detoxifying the accumulative harmful molecules of these heavy metals by bacteria to reduce the toxic level is required. This process is known as the bioremediation of heavy metals. Bacteria was isolated and identified as originating from the ship breaking areas contaminated with iron metal was Burkholderia pseudomallei. This research aimed at determining the percentage and kinetic rate of Iron (II) removal by Burkholderia pseudomallei. The variables in the research were salinity and pH of medium in laboratory scale. Salinity of medium was used at 15 and 20 ppt. The normal and optimum pH at acidic condition was chosen based on the pH effect test. The initial concentration of Iron (II) was 100 mg/L. The Iron (II) removal by Burkholderia pseudomallei was performed for 96 hr. The parameters measured were Optical Density (OD), pH, temperature, Iron (II) concentration, and a number of bacteria colonies. The results showed the iron (II) removal process is optimum at neutral pH. Reactor with pH of 7 showed the percentage of 57.8% and 58.5% at salinity of 15 and 20 ppt, respectively. Salinity affected the kinetics equation of the Iron (II) removal test. The model of pseudo second order kinetics equation in the reactor with neutral pH and salinity of 20 ppt showed well-fitted biosorption results (R2 = 0.9668) with a constant kinetics rate (k2) of 0.00038 mg/g.hr.