Resistance and bioaccumulation of Cd2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Mn2+ by thermophilic bacteria, Geobacillus thermantarcticus and Anoxybacillus amylolyticus

In this study, bioaccumulation and heavy metal resistance of Cd2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Mn2+ ions by thermophilic Geobacillus thermantarcticus and Anoxybacillus amylolyticus was investigated. The bacteria, in an order with respect to metal resistance from the most resistant to the most sensitive, was found to be Mn2+ > Co2+ > Cu2+ > Cd2+ for both G. thermantarcticus and A. amylolyticus. It was determined that the highest metal bioaccumulation was performed by A. amylolyticus in Mn2+ (28,566 mu g/g dry weight), and the lowest metal bioaccumulation was performed by A. amylolyticus in Co2+ (327.3 mu g/g dry weight). The highest Cd2+ capacities of dried cell membrane was found to be 36.07 and 39.55 mg/g membrane for G. thermantarticus and A. amylolyticus, respectively, and the highest Cd2+ capacities of wet cell membrane was found to be 14.36 and 12.39 mg/g membrane for G. thermantarcticus and A. amylolyticus, respectively.