Bioaccumulation of Chromium Ions by Immobilized Cells of a Filamentous Cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis

Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 grew in chromium (Cr) containing Chu-10 (basal) and nitrate-supplemented media, and the growth of the organism in $100{\mu}M$ chromium was found to be 50% of that in control medium. The growth in nitrate $({NO_3}^-)$ supplemented cultures was better as compared to cultures grown in basal medium. Free cells from basal and nitrate-supplemented media removed 5.2 and 7.4 nmol of chromium $mg^{-1}$protein in 8 h, respectively, from the medium containing $30{\mu}M$ chromium. The efficiency of chromium removal increased 7-fold in imidazole buffer (0.2 M, pH 7.0). A cell density equivalent to $100{\mu}g$ protein $ml^{-1}$ was found to be optimum for maximum Cr removal. Entrapment of cells in calcium-alginate beads did not affect the rate of Cr uptake by the cells. The efficiency of the laboratory-scale continuous flow bioreactor $(12.5{\times}2cm)$ loaded with alginate-immobilized cells (10 mg protein) and fed with $30{\mu}M$ chromium solution was compared at different flow rates. The efficiency of the bioreactor varied with flow rates. In terms of percent removal of Cr from influent, a flow rate of 0.1 ml $min^{-1}$ was found to be optimum for 6 h (54% Cr removal efficiency). Maximum amount of Cr (883 nmol) was removed by the cells in 3 h at a flow rate of 0.5 ml $min^{-1}$. The potential use of A. variabilis in removing Cr from industrial effluents is discussed.