Heavy metal removal using a fixed bed bioreactor packed with a solid supporter

Background Different bacterial isolates were obtained from a much-polluted lake (Lake Mariout) in Alexandria, Egypt. They were tested to bio-remove different heavy metal ions (Cu 2+ , Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Zn 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Fe 3+ ). In addition, this study was aimed to create a fixed bed column to enhance the metal removal from some polluted wastewater samples. Results The potent bacterium was selected and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the 16SrRNA gene sequence. The effect of some physicochemical parameters on the bio-removal process was studied in batch cultures; it was found the efficiency % of metal removal was increased on using pH 7.5 and bacterial biomass of 750 mg/l. Also, the use of the fixed bed column led to an increase in the removal efficiency % to 100% for the Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , and Cd 2+ ions and decrease the consuming time from 48 to 24 h under using the optimum incubation conditions, while the removal of Fe 3+ and Pb 2+ showed 62% and 47%, respectively, with a 20% increase compared to the batch system. Conclusion It was confirmed the use of fixed bed bioreactors was able to increase the efficiency towards the metal removal in polluted environmental samples while decreasing the exhaustion time. Also, Pseudomonas sp . showed great ability to get rid of many harmful health hazard substances.