Effect of zero-valent iron on Rhizobium sp. cells isolated from cadmium-contaminated sites after remediation by zero-valent iron

¹ Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
² Division of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), Pathum Thani, Thailand

^* Corresponding author: siriwanwichai@nu.ac.th

Abstract

Cadmium contamination found in paddy fields in the Maesot District of Tak Province, Thailand. This area was remediated using 50mg/L of ZVI. The study aimed to isolate and identify soil bacteria in the soil and rice roots and to investigate ZVI’s effect on the isolated bacterial cells. The results indicated no significant difference in soil bacteria content before and after remediation at the 95% confidence level. Twelve isolates of nitrogen-fixing bacteria were obtained. Those isolates could grow at high concentrations of 300 mg/L of ZVI. RH17 had a high tolerance for TSA with 300 mg/L of ZVI at only 10 CFU/ml. The effects of ZVI at 150 mg/L on RH17 cells, a small amount of ZVI was observed adhering to the cells’ surface and forming giant cells, while at 300 mg/L of ZVI, caused a reduction in growth by 81.0%. The nifH gene of RH17 was related to Rhizobium sp. strain 5-1-2. The results demonstrated the cadmium remediation process with 50mg/L of ZVI did not affect the cell count of soil bacteria in the paddy field. However, at 150 mg/L or higher, ZVI damaged the isolated Rhizobium sp. cell membrane. So, the remediation using ZVI must consider the appropriate concentration.