Selenium remediation using bioaugmentation with reducing bacteria
Innovative bioaugmentation approach utilizing Pseudomonas putida for selenium oxyanion bioremediation. This method reduces toxicity and mobility of selenium, enabling nanoparticle recovery, and is suitable for polluted waters.
Overview
This solution utilizes the bacterium Pseudomonas putida for the bioremediation of selenium oxyanions in contaminated water. By reducing soluble forms like selenate and selenite into insoluble elemental selenium, the process effectively decreases selenium toxicity and mobility. This bioremediation method not only treats water but also enables the recovery of selenium nanoparticles, offering an environmentally friendly and efficient solution for managing selenium contamination.
Technical specifications
- Species used: Pseudomonas putida
- Reduction capacity: Selenite to elemental selenium at 0.444 mmol L−1 h−1 with 89% conversion
- Conditions: Effective under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions
- Process: Utilizes natural bacterial growth linked to respiratory and detoxification pathways
- Outcomes: Formation of red elemental selenium particles outside the bacterial cells, reducing bioavailability
- Potential enhancements: Biostimulation of sulphur metabolism to boost reduction rates
Technology readiness level
This technology is at TRL 4, having been validated in laboratory settings with plans for further optimization and field trials under controlled conditions to assess its effectiveness in real-world environments.
About Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a STEM‑focused public research university with a large postgraduate community and an entrepreneurial culture. Industry engages through the White City innovation district, where the university offers incubator and scale‑up labs, wet‑lab and prototyping facilities, co‑location with corporate R&D and startups, and a dedicated technology transfer office. Integration with a major NHS hospital system provides access to clinical cohorts, trials infrastructure, and translational expertise, while corporate relations streamline sponsored research and consortia. Research is supported by competitive funding from UK Research and Innovation councils, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, European programs, and major foundations.
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