Bacterial strains found in the soils of a municipal solid waste dumping site facilitated phosphate solubilization along with cadmium remediation.

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) that can withstand high cadmium (Cd) stress is a desired combination for bioremediation. This study evaluated the Cd bioremediation potential of four PSB strains isolated from the contaminated soils of a municipal solid waste (MSW) discarding site (Guwahati, India). PSB strains were cultured in Pikovskaya (PVK) media, which led to higher acid phosphatase (ACP) activity and the release of organic acid. Optical density (OD) measurements were performed to determine the growth pattern of PSB; furthermore, Cd uptake by PSB was evaluated using infrared spectroscopy (IR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses. The 16S rRNA taxonomic analysis revealed that all the four promising PSB strains belonged to either Bacillus sp. or Enterobacter sp. One strain (SM_SS8) demonstrated higher tolerance towards Cd (up to 100 mg L-1). Flow cytometry analysis revealed 70.92%, 46.93% and 20.4% viability of SM_SS8 in 10, 50 and 100 mg L-1, respectively in PVK media containing Cd. This study has therefore substantiated the bioremediation of Cd from polluted soil by the PSB isolates. Thus, experimental results revealed a potential combo benefit, phosphate solubilization along with Cd remediation.

Free radical scavenging activity and reducing power of Acacia nilotica wood lignin.

Nine different fractions of lignin extracted by alkali, hot water and organosolv methods from Acacia wood powder were assessed for antioxidants activity. Results indicated that methanolic lignin fraction had highest polyphenol content of 393.30±9.2µg/ml (GAE). The oraganosolv lignin with total phenols and phenolic hydroxyl group content exhibited significant antioxidant activity as compared to other lignin fractions. Antioxidant properties of acetone fractions revealed a high antiradical scavenging activity (<90%) with a simultaneous high ferric and molybdate ion reducing capacity. The influence of extraction methods on functional groups of lignin fractions was confirmed by analytical methods and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Whereas the phenolic content showed strong correlation with reducing capacity, the antiradical activity was moderately correlated with phenolic content. A high phenolic hydroxyl groups content of organosolv lignin fractions provides evidence for the presence of active therapeutic antioxidant compounds for their testing as potential value added products for cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.