MECHANISM OF SEQUESTRATION OF HEAVY

METALS BY MICROORGANISMS

( E N V I R O N M E N TA L B I O T E C H N O L O G Y )

By Dolly Shrimali
Submitted to
M.Tech Biotechnology (sem-3)
Dr. Arnab Kumar Ghosh
Reg : 221000410354
HEAVY METALS AND TOXICITY
• Naturally occurring element having a high atomic weight and high density which is five times
greater than that of water. Among all the pollutants, heavy metals have received a paramount
attention to environmental chemists due to their toxic nature. Heavy metals are usually present
in trace amounts in natural waters but many of them are toxic even at very low concentrations.
• Heavy metals become toxic when they are not metabolised by the body and accumulate in the
soft tissues. They may enter the human body through food, water, air or absorption through the
skin when they come in contact with humans in agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceutical,
industrial or residential settings
• Lead, cadmium, vanadium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, arsenic, nickel, manganese, tin,
zinc, and mercury are some examples that have been reported in various literature. Heavy
Metals such as chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, and thorium can be dangerous in
elemental or combined form.
• The toxicity levels of several selected metals for humans are as follows:
Cobalt ˂ Aluminium ˂ Chromium ˂ Lead ˂ Nickel ˂ Zinc ˂ Copper ˂ Cadmium ˂
Mercury.
• Metals toxicity in humans is determined by their concentration, emission rate, and duration of
exposure. Mercury, Cadmium, and Lead are three metals which have attracted increased
attention in recent decades.
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 TYPES OF MICROORGANISM USED IN
BIOREMEDIATION
Yeasts can be the most ubiquitous alternative for They exhibit good biosorbents activity against heavy
bioremediation of heavy metals from the polluted
environment as they have the capability to
withstand a wide range of environmental conditions.
Yeast cell walls carry a negative
charge on it, and are capable to
bind with heavy metal cations
likely due to electrostatic
interactions
Algae has been proven to be very
efficient for the bioaccumulation of
heavy metals and degradation of
xenobiotics. Algae bioremediation
process attracted the attention of
researchers over the years as it plays a
vital role in the carbon dioxide fixation and is also very
advantageous biomass for biofuel production. Species like
Selenastrum capricornutum and Monoraphidium braunii
have5the potential to remove bisphenol, benzene, toluene, and
naphthalene from the polluted environment
metals in polluted environments. Peptidoglycan layer
in Gram +ve & components of Gram -ve Bacteria serve
as active sites for binding heavy metal ions which
consequently results in the
remediation of heavy metals from
the polluted environment
As fungi carry the capability to absorb
heavy metals into their mycelium and
spores, they act as robust biocatalysts
for heavy metal bioremediation. fungi
are the only organisms on Earth that
are capable of decaying wood. The mycelium of
fungi emanates powerful extracellular enzymes and
acids capable of decomposing lignin and cellulose.
Strain of Rhizopus oryzae CDBB-H-1877 has the
biosorption ability of pentachlorophenol through
the process of methylation and dichlorination.
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 BIOSORPTION
• Biosorption is defined as the passive adsorption of toxic
substances by dead, inactive, or biologically derived
materials. It’s a physiochemical process that occurs naturally
in certain biomass, allowing it to passively concentrate and
bind contaminants onto its cellular structure. This process
does not require energy and the amount of contaminants a
sorbent can remove is dependent on kinetic equilibrium and
the composition of the sorbents’ cellular surface.
• Biosorption has gained significant attention due to its
potential applications in various industries. It’s extensively
studied and utilized in wastewater treatment,
bioremediation, and the removal of heavy metals, dyes, and
organic pollutants from contaminated environments. It’s
considered an attractive alternative for removing pollutants
due to its advantages:
1.Low cost
2.High efficiency
3.Minimization of chemical/biological sludge
4.No additional nutrient requirement
5.Regeneration of biosorbent: Possibility of metal recovery
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 • Biosorption of heavy metals by microbes can be
categorized into several types based on the
mechanisms involved.
1.Intracellular Sequestration: This involves the uptake
and storage of heavy metals inside the cell. It’s an active
process that requires energy.
2.Extracellular Sequestration: This involves the binding
of heavy metals to the cell surface or extracellular
polymeric substances. It’s a passive process that does not
require energy.
3.Ion Exchange: This is a process where metal ions in
solution are exchanged with ions present on the surface of
the biomass.
4.Surface Complexation: This involves the formation of
a coordinated covalent bond between the metal ion and
the functional groups on the surface of the biomass.
5.Precipitation: This can occur when the concentration of
the metal ions exceeds its solubility limit, leading to
formation of a solid phase.
• These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive and a
single microorganism can employ multiple
mechanisms for heavy metal remediation.
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 BIOACCUMULATION
• Microbial bioaccumulation plays a crucial role in the
sequestration of heavy metals from polluted environments. It is a
metabolically-active process where microorganisms uptake heavy
metals (HMs) into their intracellular space using importer
complexes that create a translocation pathway through the lipid
bilayer. Once inside the intracellular space, the HMs can be
sequestered by proteins and peptide ligands.
1. Uptake: Microorganisms uptake heavy metals from the
environment. This uptake is facilitated by proteins that transport
the metal ions across the cell membrane.
2. Sequestration: Once inside the cell, the metal ions are sequestered
or stored. This can occur in various cellular compartments.
3. Utilization: The sequestered metal ions can be utilized in various
cellular processes. For example, some metal ions serve as cofactors
for enzymes.
• Microbial bioaccumulation is effective, economical, versatile, and
environmentally friendly. It utilizes microorganisms to absorb and
remove heavy metals from contaminated sites. This method is not
only cost-effective but also helps to minimize the environmental
impact of heavy metal pollution.
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 BIOPRECIPITATION
• Bioprecipitation is a promising technique for the removal and
recovery of heavy metals from contaminated environments. It
involves the use of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to
convert metals from their aqueous phase into a solid phase.
During bioprecipitation, the metabolites produced by these
microorganisms react with the metals present in the wastewater
and form metal precipitates.
1. Microbial Metabolism: Microorganisms produce metabolites as
a result of their metabolic activities.
2. Reaction with Metals: These metabolites react with the metals
present in the wastewater.
3. Formation of Metal Precipitates: The reaction between the
metabolites and the metals forms metal precipitates, converting
the metals from their aqueous phase into a solid phase.
• This process is particularly useful in treating wastewater streams
contaminated with heavy metals. The stable metal precipitates
formed can be subsequently recovered for further industrial use.
Bioprecipitation is considered a novel approach to recover metals
with the help of biologically produced sulfide in suitable
bioreactor configurations.

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 BIOTRANSFORMATION
• Biotransformation is a key process in the sequestration of heavy
metals from polluted environments. It involves the use of
microorganisms to alter the chemical structure of heavy metals,
thereby converting them into a less toxic or more easily recoverable
form.
• Here’s how it works:
1. Microbial Metabolism: Microorganisms metabolize heavy metals
as a part of their natural metabolic processes .
2. Chemical Transformation: During metabolism, the
microorganisms alter the chemical structure of the heavy metals.
3. Conversion to Less Toxic Form: The biotransformation process
converts heavy metals into less toxic forms, making them less
harmful to the environment and living organisms.
4. Conversion to More Easily Recoverable Form: In some cases,
biotransformation can convert heavy metals into forms that are more
easily recoverable for industrial use . 4 Biotransformation mechanism for heavy metal detoxification in
microalgae. MMA, Monomethylarsonic acid; DMA, Dimethylarsinic
• Biotransformation is an effective method for heavy metal acid (Source: National Research Council 2003)
sequestration as it not only detoxifies heavy metals but also
potentially allows for their recovery. This makes it a valuable tool in
environmental remediation efforts.
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 Here are some key types of biotransformation:
1.Reduction: Some microbes can reduce heavy metals to a
less toxic form. For example, certain bacteria can reduce
hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), a toxic and soluble form, to
trivalent chromium (Cr(III)), a less toxic and insoluble form.
2.Oxidation: Certain microbes can oxidize heavy metals,
changing them into a form that is less mobile and less
bioavailable. For example, some bacteria can oxidize ferrous
iron (Fe(II)) to ferric iron (Fe(III)), which precipitates as iron
hydroxide.
3.Methylation: Some microbes can methylate heavy metals,
which can result in either detoxification or increased toxicity.
For example, certain bacteria and fungi can methylate
mercury (Hg), converting it into methylmercury, which is
more toxic but also more volatile and can thus be removed
from the environment.
4.Dissimilatory Metal Reduction: Certain bacteria can use
heavy metals as electron acceptors in their respiratory
process, leading to the reduction of the metals.
These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive and a single
microorganism can employ multiple mechanisms for heavy
metal remediation.
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A D VA N TA G E S O F M I C R O B I A L S E Q U E S T R AT I O N
O F H E AV Y M E TA L S

1. Eco-friendly: The use of microbial biosorbents is eco-friendly as it uses natural processes to

remove heavy metals.
2. Cost-effective: Microbial sequestration is generally less expensive than conventional
treatment methods.
3. Efficient: Microbes have various mechanisms of metal sequestration that hold greater metal
biosorption capacities.
4. In-situ Treatment: One of the important features of bioremediation technology is the in-situ
treatment which reduces the possibility of transmitting the contaminants to another site.
5. Versatile: This method is effective, economical, versatile, and environmentally friendly.
6. Genetic Engineering: The application of genetic engineering, to engineer a microorganism to
acquire the ability to remove different types of heavy metals at a time or to generate a
transgenic plant, is considered one of the new promising bioremediation approaches.
• These advantages make microbial sequestration a preferred choice for environmental
cleanup, especially in scenarios where conventional methods are expensive or ineffective.
 CONCLUSION

• The sequestration of heavy metals by microorganisms offers a promising

approach for remediation and restoration efforts. By harnessing the natural
abilities of these microorganisms, we can develop sustainable and eco-
friendly strategies to mitigate heavy metal pollution. This includes the use of
microbial-based technologies such as bioremediation and phytoremediation,
which involve the application of specific microorganisms or plants to remove
or degrade heavy metals from contaminated sites.

• In conclusion, understanding and harnessing the potential of microorganisms

in sequestering heavy metals is crucial for protecting the environment and
safeguarding human health. By implementing these strategies, we can work
towards a cleaner and healthier future for both ecosystems and communities.
 THANK YOU

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