The optimal consortia of microbial bioremediation agents for the removal of heavy metals from the superfund site at newtown creek in brooklyn, new york

Abstract

Bioremediation is a technique that introduces a microbial population capable of destroying, transforming, or immobilizing a pollutant of interest in a manner that is both safe to the environment and cost-effective. Bioremediation agents are effective in sequestering heavy metals, and are capable of functioning at their highest capacity when environmental conditions are complimentary to microbial growth, the indigenous microbial population favorably interacts with the introduced microorganisms, and nutritional requirements are satisfied either by the ecosystem or via the addition of amendments. Additionally, genetically engineered microorganisms can be utilized when necessary within especially challenging conditions. This study determines the ability of a consortia of microbial bioremediation agents to remove heavy metals from the Superfund site at Newtown Creek in Brooklyn, New York. The remediation of heavy metals at Newtown Creek can be accomplished using Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Cupriavidus metallidurans. These microorganisms possess a high degree of potential and are promising tools in the reduction of Earth's ever-increasing pollution levels. Heavy metal concentrations, nutrient levels, pH, temperature, salinity, oxidation reduction potential, and the indigenous microbiome were analyzed to determine the expected benefit of microbial bioremediation in the reduction of heavy metal concentrations. Although high initial heavy metal concentrations and salinity may negatively impact this effort, all other variables are expected to be conducive to microbial growth. The introduction of amendments is expected to further benefit microbial bioremediation potential. The selected consortia of microorganisms introduced have the capacity to sequester all the chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver found at Newtown Creek. The impact of arsenic, cadmium, copper, nickel, and zinc concentrations can also be decreased due to microbial bioremediation efforts. The use of genetically engineered microorganisms within a bioreactor is expected to further benefit remediation efforts for heavy metals sequestered at low rates within the natural environment. Microbial bioremediation is not expected to fully remove heavy metals from Newtown Creek, yet these microorganisms are capable of greatly improving conditions.