Effective Iron-Accumulating Bacteria Isolated from Chemical Laboratory Drainage for Iron Removal

Improperly treated heavy metal wastewater discharged into water sources could cause a serious issue for the environment. The aim of this study was to bioaccumulate iron (Fe) using native bacteria isolated from the laboratory drainage water containing a high concentration of iron. The experiment was conducted in 250 mL conical flasks containing 150 mL Fe solution in concentrations of 25, 100, and 250 mg/L, respectively. Approximately 10% of bacteria inoculum was cultivated in each Fe concentration for 24 and 48 hours. The results showed that Pseudomonas hibiscicola was identified as an effective iron-accumulating species of bacteria. The species could remove Fe up to 82% (25 mg/L), 77.8% (100 mg/L) and 32% (250 mg/L). This promising result indicates that the native bacteria isolated from the environment pose a great potential for the remediation of wastewater containing iron.