Lukasz Drewniak, Katarzyna Kucharek and Pola Lomza
Department of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland
Arsenic is a natural, toxic and carcinogenic metalloid. Occurrence of arsenic contamination in drinking water is the cause of many serious diseases around the world. Various physico-chemical methods were developed and used to treat contaminated waters. The materials dedicated for arsenic removal are dominated by low cost sorbents, such as bog iron ores, dead biomass or alginate. Among them bog iron ores seem to be the most effective adsorbent since have high potential in bonding both arsenite and arsenate. The main limitation of their use may be susceptibility to microbial dissolution, since organic matter from the deposit can be used as a source of energy by the bacteria.
The main aim of this study was assessment of stability of bog iron ores saturated with arsenic under influence of activity of microorganisms occur in contaminated waters. As source of microorganisms we used surface water from the Trujaca Stream in Zloty Stok in Poland. The following physiological group of bacteria were present in the waters: nitrifying, denitrifying, arsenate-reducing, arsenite-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing, sulfite-oxidizing and aerobic heterotrophic bacteria. Growth analysis showed that indigenous bacteria can directly and indirectly promote the mobilization of arsenic adsorbed on bog iron ores.
Keywords: Bog iron ores, sorbents, arsenic, bacteria.