Abstract:
The objective of the study was to gather insight into the metabolism of lead-removing
microorganisms, coupled with Pb(II) removal, biomass viability and nitrate concentrations for
Pb(II) bioremoval using an industrially obtained microbial consortium. The consortium used for
study has proven to be highly effective at removing aqueous Pb(II) from solution. Anaerobic
batch experiments were conducted with Luria-Bertani broth as rich growth medium over a period
of 33 h, comparing a lower concentration of Pb(II) with a higher concentration at two different
nutrient concentrations. Metabolite profiling and quantification were conducted with the aid of both
liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-HDMS) in a “non-targeted”
fashion and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a “targeted” fashion. Four main
compounds were identified, and a metabolic study was conducted on each to establish their possible
significance for Pb(II) bioremoval. The study investigates the first metabolic profile to date for Pb(II)
bioremoval, which in turn can result in a clarified understanding for development on an industrial
and microbial level.
