Characterization and nickel sorption kinetics of a new metal hyper-accumulator Bacillus sp.

The heavy metal-resistant bacterial strain SJ-101 has been isolated from fly ash contaminated soil. Based on the morphological and biochemical characteristics, the isolate SJ-101 was presumptively identified as Bacillus sp. The adsorption isotherms revealed the absolute adsorption capacity (Q degrees) of 244 mg Ni g(-1) dry cell mass vis-à-vis 161 mg Ni g(-1) synthetic resin (Amberlite IR-120). The higher relative adsorption capacity (K(F)) of 7.37, and the intensity of adsorption (1/n) of 0.58 with dry cell biomass suggested higher affinity of Bacillus cells towards nickel ions. The data conform to the Langmuir adsorption model relatively better than the Freundlich model. The thermodynamic parameters indicated the feasibility, endothermic, and interactive nature of nickel adsorption process on the cell surface. Higher Ni tolerance and sorption capacity of Bacillus sp. SJ-101, explicitly signifies its implications in Ni bioremediation process.