Schoenoplectus americanus as a potential phytoremediator: in vitro assessment of its ability to remove contaminants in domestic and tannery wastewater.

Growing industrialization and urbanization have led to increased water pollution due to the inadequate treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater (DW) and wastewater produced by industries such as tanneries (TW). These wastewaters are characterized by high concentrations of organic matter, nutrients, sulphates, chlorides and high microbial load. TW also contains phenols and chromium, which disturb and harm the ecosystem the local. The decontamination of wastewater prior to their discharge through biological tools, especially the use of species that are native to the site in need of treatment, has been described as effective and advantageous. This study evaluated the ability of Schoenoplectus americanus, a native plant species from Cordoba (Argentina), to phytoremediate local DW and TW samples at a laboratory scale. The aim was to ascertain whether this system could potentially be considered for the remediation of wastewater in real-world scenarios. S. americanus was able to tolerate pure DW and a 1/20 (v/v) dilution of TW for 30 days under hydroponic conditions. Removal rates ranging from 50% to 89% were obtained for residual organic matter (determined as chemical oxygen demand or COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Significant removal of total chromium (TCr) and total phenols (TPhs) was also observed in TW (85% and 98%). The number of total coliforms (TC), was reduced by about 96% and 99%. These results indicate that S. americanus is a good candidate for the phytoremediation of regional DW and TW. For this reason, it may be considered for full-scale applications in the future.

Functional response of Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A to tannery wastewater as revealed by a complementary proteomic approach.

Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1 A is a promising candidate for the bioremediation of tannery wastewater. In this study, we applied shotgun proteomic technology in conjunction with a gel-based assay (Gel-LC) to explore the strain's intracellular protein profile when grown in tannery wastewater as opposed to normal culture conditions. A total of 1775 proteins were identified, 52 of which were unique to the tannery wastewater treatment. Many of them were connected to the degradation of aromatic compounds and siderophore biosynthesis. On the other hand, 1598 proteins overlapped both conditions but were differentially expressed in each. Those that were upregulated in wastewater (109) were involved in the processes mentioned above, as well as in oxidative stress mitigation and intracellular redox state regulation. Particularly interesting were the downregulated proteins under the same treatment (318), which were diverse but mainly linked to the regulation of basic cellular functions (replication, transcription, translation, cell cycle, and wall biogenesis); metabolism (amino acids, lipids, sulphate, energetic processes); and other more complex responses (cell motility, exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing). The findings suggest that SFC 500-1 A engages in survival and stress management strategies to cope with the toxic effects of tannery wastewater, and that such strategies may be mostly oriented at keeping metabolic processes to a minimum. Altogether, the results might be useful in the near future to improve the strain's effectiveness if it will be applied for bioremediation.

Sequential application of activated sludge and phytoremediation with aquatic macrophytes on tannery effluents: in search of a complete treatment.

Tannery effluents with a high organic matter load (indicated by their COD level) have to be treated before they are discharged, so as to minimize their negative impact on the environment. Using field mesocosm systems, this study evaluated the feasibility of treating such effluents through bioaugmentation with activated sludge, followed by phytoremediation with aquatic macrophytes (Lemnoideae subfamily). Regardless of its quality, the activated sludge was able to remove approximately 77% of the COD from effluents with a low initial organic load (up to 1500 mg/L). The macrophytes then enhanced removal (up to 86%), so the final COD values were permissible under the current legislation for effluent discharge. When the initial organic load in the undiluted effluents was higher (around 3000 mg/L), the COD values obtained after consecutive bioaugmentation and phytoremediation were close to the legally allowed limits (583 mg/L), which highlights the potential of phytoremediation as a tertiary treatment. This treatment also brought total coliform counts down to legally acceptable values, without plant biomass decreasing over time. Moreover, the plant biomass remained viable and capable of high COD removal efficiency (around 75%) throughout two additional reuse cycles. These findings indicate that the efficiency of the biological treatments assayed here depends largely on the initial organic load in the tannery effluents. In any case, the sequential application of activated sludge and aquatic macrophytes proved to be a successful alternative for remediation.

Proteomic analysis to unravel the biochemical mechanisms triggered by Bacillus toyonensis SFC 500-1E under chromium(VI) and phenol stress.

Bacillus toyonensis SFC 500-1E is a member of the consortium SFC 500-1 able to remove Cr(VI) and simultaneously tolerate high phenol concentrations. In order to elucidate mechanisms utilized by this strain during the bioremediation process, the differential expression pattern of proteins was analyzed when it grew with or without Cr(VI) (10 mg/L) and Cr(VI) + phenol (10 and 300 mg/L), through two complementary proteomic approaches: gel-based (Gel-LC) and gel-free (shotgun) nanoUHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A total of 400 differentially expressed proteins were identified, out of which 152 proteins were down-regulated under Cr(VI) and 205 up-regulated in the presence of Cr(VI) + phenol, suggesting the extra effort made by the strain to adapt itself and keep growing when phenol was also added. The major metabolic pathways affected include carbohydrate and energetic metabolism, followed by lipid and amino acid metabolism. Particularly interesting were also ABC transporters and the iron-siderophore transporter as well as transcriptional regulators that can bind metals. Stress-associated global response involving the expression of thioredoxins, SOS response, and chaperones appears to be crucial for the survival of this strain under treatment with both contaminants. This research not only provided a deeper understanding of B. toyonensis SFC 500-1E metabolic role in Cr(VI) and phenol bioremediation process but also allowed us to complete an overview of the consortium SFC 500-1 behavior. This may contribute to an improvement in its use as a bioremediation strategy and also provides a baseline for further research.

Biohybrid membranes for effective bacterial vehiculation and simultaneous removal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) and phenol.

The aim of the present study was to obtain an effective vehiculation system in which bacterial agents could maintain viability improving their removal capacity. Herein, we present a novel biohybrid membrane of polymeric nanofibers and free-living bacteria for the simultaneous removal of pollutants. In this system, bacteria are free within the pores between the nanofibers and adsorbed to the surface of the membranes. Association between bacteria and the membranes was performed through a self-formulated medium, and the presence of the bacteria in the polymeric matrix was evidenced through atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biohybrid membranes associated with the remediation agents Bacillus toyonensis SFC 500-1E and Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A promoted a reduction of up to 2.5 mg/L of hexavalent chromium and up to 200 mg/L of phenol after 24 h of treatment in synthetic medium containing the contaminants. Similarly, more than 46% of the hexavalent chromium and all of the phenol content were removed after treatment of a tannery effluent with initial concentrations of 7 mg/L of Cr(VI) and 305 mg/L of phenol. Counts of the remediation agents from the membranes were always above 1.107 CFU/g, also in the reutilization assays performed without reinoculation. Biohybrid membranes were hydrolysis-resistant, reusable, and effective in the simultaneous removal of contaminants for more than 5 cycles. Viability of the microorganisms was maintained after long-term storage of the membranes at 4 °C, without the use of microbiological media or the addition of cryoprotectants. Graphical abstract KEY POINTS: • Polymeric membranes were effectively associated with the SFC 500-1 remediation consortium • Biohybrid membranes removed hexavalent chromium and phenol from different matrices • Removal of contaminants was achieved in many successive cycles without reinoculation.

Application of two bioassays as potential indicators of phenol phytoremediation efficiency by tobacco hairy roots.

Phenol is one of the contaminants most frequently found in the environment and it is considered a priority pollutant due to their toxic effects. Hairy roots (HR) constitute a good model tool for the removal of this contaminant. In this work, phenol removal using wild type (WT) and double transgenic (DT) Nicotiana tabacum HR was performed with high efficiency (60-80%, for 25-250 mg L-1 phenol solutions, respectively). After phytoremediation process, the toxicity of post removal solutions (PRS) was evaluated through two-toxicity test belonging to two trophic levels, Lactuca sativa test and Rhinella arenarum (AMPHITOX). Toxicity of PRS showed variable results since these solutions were less toxic to L. sativa seeds compared to R. arenarum embryos, which could be attributed to different sensitivities of the exposed organisms. Although PRS obtained using WT and DT HR reduced phenol phytotoxicity on L. sativa seeds, WT PRS were even less toxic than DT PRS according to this test. Regarding AMPHITOX, HR culture medium without phenol but incubated with HR and phenol PRS exerted a toxic effect on the embryos, which could be related to the presence of toxic products derived from HR metabolism. The results demonstrated that an efficient phenol removal is not always accompanied by a considerable reduction of the solution toxicity and therefore, the use of organisms from different trophic levels to evaluate the toxicity after the removal process gains importance.

Polyphasic characterization and identification of the bioremediation agent Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E.

Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E is used for the effective treatment of tannery effluents since it consistently removes hexavalent chromium from diverse contaminated matrices. The aim of the present study was to complete identification of the strain through a polyphasic characterization, which included the pattern of carbohydrate utilization, fatty acids profile, multilocus sequence analysis, multiplex PCR profile and the analysis of the complete genome sequence. Morpho-physiological and biochemical characterization results and analysis of 16S rRNA sequences were not conclusive. The strain formed a monophyletic clade with B. toyonensis BCT-7112, B. thuringiensis MC28 and B. cereus Rock 1-3. However, genomic comparisons with type strains of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis showed that the isolated belonged to a different species. Results of this study highlight the relevance of the genome sequence of this strain, identified as Bacillus toyonensis SFC 500-1E, to expand knowledge of its bioremediation potential and to explore unknown decontamination activities.

Impact assessment of bioaugmented tannery effluent discharge on the microbiota of water bodies.

Effluents are commonly discharged into water bodies, and in order for the process to be as environmentally sound as possible, the potential effects on native water communities must be assessed alongside the quality parameters of the effluents themselves. In the present work, changes in the bacterial diversity of streamwater receiving a tannery effluent were monitored by high-throughput MiSeq sequencing. Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters and acute toxicity were also evaluated through different bioassays. After the discharge of treated effluents that had been either naturally attenuated or bioaugmented, bacterial diversity decreased immediately in the streamwater samples, as evidenced by the over-representation of taxa such as Brachymonas, Arcobacter, Marinobacterium, Myroides, Paludibacter and Acinetobacter, typically found in tannery effluents. However, there were no remarkable changes in diversity over time (after 1 day). In terms of the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters analyzed, chemical oxygen demand and total bacterial count increased in response to discharge of the treated effluents. No lethal effects were observed in Lactuca sativa L. seeds or Rhinella arenarum embryos exposed to the streamwater that had received the treated effluents. All of these results contribute to the growing knowledge about the environmental safety of effluent discharge procedures.

Morphological and structural response of Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E after Cr(VI) and phenol treatment.

Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, a bacterial strain isolated from tannery sediments, is able to remove Cr(VI) and simultaneously tolerate high concentrations of phenol. In this study, we used high-resolution microscopies, fluorescence polarization techniques, and several biochemical approaches to improve our understanding about the adaptive mechanisms of this strain to survive in the presence of Cr(VI) and phenol, both individually and simultaneously. Among adaptive strategies developed by Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, an increase in bacterial size, such as length, width, and height, and ultrastructural alterations, such as electron-dense precipitates, the presence of exopolymers, and cell lysis, are noteworthy. The exopolymers observed were consistent with the extensive biofilm formation and exopolysaccharides and extracellular protein quantification. At the cell membrane level, a rapid rigidity was induced in Cr(VI) + phenol treatment. This effect was counteracted after 16 h by changes at the level of phospholipids, mainly in the composition of fatty acids (FAs); in particular, an increase in the unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio was detected. This study shows evidence of some adaptive responses displayed by Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, which allows it to survive in stressful conditions.

Deepening the knowledge on the removal of Cr(VI) by L. minuta Kunth: removal efficiency and mechanisms, lipid signaling pathways, antioxidant response, and toxic effects.

Lemna minuta Kunth was used to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions, and some of the mechanisms involved in this process were analyzed. In addition, the cellular signaling mediated by phospholipase D activity as well as antioxidant responses was also evaluated during the process. Cr(VI) removal efficiencies were 40% for 0.5 mg/L, after 24 h, and up to 18% at metal concentrations as high as 5 mg/L. Removal mechanisms displayed by these macrophytes include bioadsorption to cell surfaces and, to a greater extent, Cr internalization and bioaccumulation within cells. Inside of them, Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III), a less toxic form of this metal. At the first hours of Cr(VI) exposure, plants were able to sense chromium, activating membrane signal transduction pathways mediated by phospholipase D and phosphatidic acid. Moreover, an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutases and peroxidases was observed in the same time. These and other components of the antioxidant defense system would help to reduce the stress generated by the metal. The toxicity of the products formed during the removal process was assessed through Lactuca sativa L. and AMPHIAGU test. It was evidenced that Cr(VI) phytoremediation process by L. minuta plants did not generate acute toxicity neither for L. sativa seeds nor for embryos of Rhinella arenarum (Hensel, 1876). Thus, L. minuta plants could be considered as valuable species for the treatment of waters contaminated with Cr(VI).

Membrane Rigidity and Phosphatidic Acid (PtdOH) Signal: Two Important Events in Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A Exposed to Chromium(VI) and Phenol.

The remodeling of membrane lipids is a mechanism that allows microorganisms to survive in unfavorable environments such as industrial effluents, which often contain inorganic and organic pollutants, like chromium and phenol. In the present work, we evaluated the effect of Cr(VI) and phenol on the membrane of Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A, a bacterial strain isolated from tannery sediments where such pollutants can be found. The presence of lipid kinases and phospholipases and the changes in their activities under exposure to these pollutants were determined. Cr(VI) and Cr(VI) + phenol caused the membrane to become more rigid for up to 16 h after exposure. This could be due to an increase in cardiolipin (Ptd2 Gro) and a decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn), which are indicative of more order and rigidity in the membrane. Increased phospholipase A activity (PLA, EC 3.1.1.4) could be responsible for the decrease in PtdEtn levels. Moreover, our results indicate that Cr(VI) and Cr(VI) + phenol trigger the phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) signal. The finding of significantly increased phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P) levels means this is likely achieved via PtdIns-PLC/DGK. This report provides the first evidence that A. guillouiae SFC 500-1A is able to sense Cr(VI) and phenol, transduce this signal through changes in the physical state of the membrane, and trigger lipid-signaling events.

How the bacterial community of a tannery effluent responds to bioaugmentation with the consortium SFC 500-1. Impact of environmental variables.

Bioaugmentation with the consortium SFC 500-1 is a promising alternative to remediate wastewaters, such as tannery effluents. With the aim of assessing the changes produced in response to bioaugmentation, bacterial 16S rDNA genes were sequenced with Illumina MiSeq Platform. Additionally, bacterial and fungal groups were analyzed through standard culture dependent methods. The impact of diverse physico-chemical and microbiological parameters on the prokaryotic diversity was also evaluated throughout. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, represented together up to 91% of the total number of sequences obtained from the tannery effluent. Diversity decreased immediately after inoculation, due to an increase in the representation of the taxa to which the added consortium belongs. However, bioaugmentation produced no greater variations since only a 10% of unique operational taxonomic units were found in the inoculated treatment. An increase in the abundance of Myroides and a reduction in the representation of Proteiniclasticum and Halomonas were major observed variations. On the other hand, pH and dissolved oxygen constituted main environmental factors affecting the structure of the prokaryotic communities. In all treatments yeasts increased over time, to the detriment of filamentous fungi. Together, data from this report may contribute to the development of improved bioremediation strategies of industrial wastewaters.

Laboratory and field microcosms as useful experimental systems to study the bioaugmentation treatment of tannery effluents.

Tannery effluents require effective treatment prior to their final disposal, and the use of native bacterial consortia could be an appropriate strategy for this purpose. In the present work, consortium SFC 500-1 was found to be highly tolerant to different metals, metalloids and aromatic compounds like phenols. It was also able to remove the black dye commonly used in tanneries. Moreover, it promoted a significant reduction in chemical oxygen demand and exhibited high capability for the simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and phenol. However, the effectiveness of the remediation processes markedly varied from one experimental system (Erlenmeyer flasks) to another (field microcosm system), highlighting the importance of moving from a small-scale study system to one involving more realistic environmental scenarios. In addition, we found a decrease in the toxicity of the effluent treated with consortium SFC 500-1. Taken together, our results indicate that this consortium possesses great potential for the treatment of tannery effluents. We conclude that for the development of a bioremediation strategy, it is necessary to develop experiments at a larger scale under conditions similar to those of the original system, in order to complete the scenario first created by in vitro approaches.

Identification of the main mechanisms involved in the tolerance and bioremediation of Cr(VI) by Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E.

Chromium pollution is a problem that affects different areas worldwide and, therefore, must be solved. Bioremediation is a promising alternative to treat environmental contamination, but finding bacterial strains able to tolerate and remove different contaminants is a major challenge, since most co-polluted sites contain mixtures of organic and inorganic substances. In the present work, Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E, isolated from the bacterial consortium SFC 500-1 native to tannery sediments, showed tolerance to various concentrations of different phenolic compounds and heavy metals, such as Cr(VI). This strain was able to efficiently remove Cr(VI), even in the presence of phenol. The detection of the chrA gene suggested that Cr(VI) extrusion could be a mechanism that allowed this strain to tolerate the heavy metal. However, reduction through cytosolic NADH-dependent chromate reductases may be the main mechanism involved in the remediation. The information provided in this study about the mechanisms through which Bacillus sp. SFC 500-1E removes Cr(VI) should be taken into account for the future application of this strain as a possible candidate to remediate contaminated environments.

An approach to study ultrastructural changes and adaptive strategies displayed by Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A under simultaneous Cr(VI) and phenol treatment.

Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A, a native bacterial strain isolated from tannery sediments, is able to simultaneously remove high concentrations of Cr(VI) and phenol. In this complementary study, high-resolution microscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used to improve our understanding of some bacterial adaptive mechanisms that enhance their ability to survive. AFM contributed in gaining insight into changes in bacterial size and morphology. It allowed the unambiguous identification of pollutant-induced cellular disturbances and the visualization of bacterial cells with depth sensitivity. TEM analysis revealed that Cr(VI) produced changes mainly at the intracellular level, whereas phenol produced alterations at the membrane level. This strain tended to form more extensive biofilms after phenol treatment, which was consistent with microscopy images and the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs). In addition, other exopolymeric substances (DNA, proteins) significantly increased under Cr(VI) and phenol treatment. These exopolymers are important for biofilm formation playing a key role in bacterial aggregate stability, being especially useful for bioremediation of environmental pollutants. This study yields the first direct evidences of a range of different changes in A. guillouiae SFC 500-1A which seems to be adaptive strategies to survive in stressful conditions.

Improvement of simultaneous Cr(VI) and phenol removal by an immobilised bacterial consortium and characterisation of biodegradation products.

Microbial bioremediation emerged some decades ago as an eco-friendly technology to restore polluted sites. Traditionally, the search for microorganisms suitable for bioremediation has been based on the selection of isolated strains able to remove a specific type of pollutant. However, this strategy has now become obsolete, since co-pollution is a global reality. Thus, current studies attempt to find bacterial cultures capable of coping with a mixture of organic and inorganic compounds. In this sense, the bacterial consortium SFC 500-1 has demonstrated efficiency for Cr(VI) and phenol removal, both of which are found in many industrial wastewaters. In the present study, the ability of SFC 500-1 for simultaneous removal was improved through its entrapment in a Ca-alginate matrix. This strategy led to an increased removal of Cr(VI), which was partially reduced to Cr(III). Immobilised cells were able to tolerate and degrade phenol up to 1,500mg/l at high rates, forming catechol and cis,cis-muconate as oxidation intermediates. Successful removal potential through 5 cycles of reuse, as well as after long-term storage, was another important advantage of the immobilised consortium. These characteristics make SFC 500-1 an interesting system for potential application in the biotreatment of co-polluted effluents.

Synergistic effect of chickpea plants and Mesorhizobium as a natural system for chromium phytoremediation.

The presence of chromium in soils not only affects the physiological processes of plants but also the microbial rhizosphere composition and metabolic activities of microorganisms. Hence, the inoculation of plants with Cr(VI)-tolerant rhizospheric microorganisms as an alternative to reduce Cr phytotoxicity was studied. In this work, chickpea germination was reduced by Cr(VI) concentrations of 150 and 250 mg/L (6 and 33%, respectively); however lower Cr(VI) concentrations negatively affected the biomass. On the other hand, its symbiont, Mesorhizobium ciceri, was able to grow and remove different Cr(VI) concentrations (5-20 mg/L). The inoculation of chickpea plants with this strain exposed to Cr(VI) showed a significantly enhanced plant growth. In addition, inoculated plants accumulated higher Cr concentration in roots than those noninoculated. It is important to note that Cr was not translocated to shoots independently of inoculation. These results suggest that Mesorhizobium's capability to remove Cr(VI) could be exploited for bioremediation. Moreover, chickpea plants would represent a natural system for phytoremediation or phytostabilization of Cr in situ that could be improved with M. ciceri inoculation. This strategy would be considered as a phytoremediation tool with great economic and ecological relevance.

Biotechnological tools to improve bioremediation of phenol by Acinetobacter sp. RTE1.4.

The use of native bacteria is a useful strategy to decontaminate industrial effluents as well as the environment. Acinetobacter sp. RTE1.4 was previously isolated from polluted environments and constitutes a promising alternative for this purpose due to its capability to remove phenol from synthetic solutions and industrial effluents. In this work, this strain was identified at species level as A. tandoii RTE1.4. Phenol degradation pathway was studied and some reaction intermediates were detected, confirming that this strain degraded phenol through ortho-cleavage of the aromatic ring. Phenol removal assays were carried out in a stirred tank bioreactor and a complete degradation of the contaminant was achieved after only 7 h, at an aeration rate of 3 vvm and at agitation of 600 rpm. Moreover, this bacterium was immobilized into calcium alginate beads and an increase in phenol biodegradation with respect to free cells was observed. The immobilized cells were reused for four consecutive cycles and stored at 4°C for 9 months, during which phenol removal efficiency was maintained. Post-removal solutions were evaluated by Microtox® test, showing a toxicity reduction after bacterial treatment. These findings demonstrated that A. tandoii RTE1.4 might be considered as a useful biotechnological tool for an efficient treatment of different solutions contaminated with phenol in bioreactors, using either free or immobilized cells.

Biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in simultaneous phenol and Cr(VI) removal by Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A.

Bioremediation has emerged as an environmental friendly strategy to deal with environmental pollution. Since the majority of polluted sites contain complex mixtures of inorganic and organic pollutants, it is important to find bacterial strains that can cope with multiple contaminants. In this work, a bacterial strain isolated from tannery sediments was identified as Acinetobacter guillouiae SFC 500-1A. This strain was able to simultaneously remove high phenol and Cr(VI) concentrations, and the mechanisms involved in such process were evaluated. The phenol biodegradation was catalized by a phenol-induced catechol 1,2-dioxygenase through an ortho-cleavage pathway. Also, NADH-dependent chromate reductase activity was measured in the cytosolic fraction. The ability of this strain to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was corroborated by detection of Cr(III) in cellular biomass after the removal process. While phenol did not affect significantly the chromate reductase activity, Cr(VI) was a major disruptor of catechol dioxygenase activity. Nevertheless, this activity was high even in presence of high Cr(VI) concentrations. Our results suggest the potential application of A. guillouiae SFC 500-1A for wastewaters treatment, and the obtained data provide the insights into the removal mechanisms, dynamics, and possible limitations of the bioremediation.

Chromium (VI) remediation by a native strain: effect of environmental conditions and removal mechanisms involved.

A native bacterial strain with high capability for Cr (VI) removal was isolated from tannery sediments located in Elena (Córdoba Province, Argentina). The strain was characterized by amplification of 16S rRNA gene and identified as Serratia sp. C8. It was able to efficiently remove different Cr (VI) concentrations in a wide range of pHs and temperatures. The addition of different carbon sources as well as initial inoculum concentration were analyzed, demonstrating that Serratia sp. C8 could reduce 80 % of 20 mg/L Cr (VI) in a medium containing glucose 1 g/L, at pH 6-7 and 28 °C as optimal conditions, using 5 % inoculum concentration. The mechanisms involved in Cr (VI) removal were also evaluated. The strain was capable of biosorpting around 7.5-8.5 % of 20 mg/L Cr on its cell surface and to reduce Cr (VI). In addition, approximately a 54 and 46 % of total Cr was detected in the biomass and in the culture medium, respectively, and in the culture medium, Cr (III) was the predominant species. In conclusion, Serratia sp. C8 removed Cr (VI) and the mechanisms involved in decreasing order of contribution were as follows: reduction catalyzed by intracellular enzymes, accumulation into the cells, and biosorption to the microbial biomass. This strain could be a suitable microorganism for Cr (VI) bioremediation of tannery sediments and effluents or even for other environments contaminated with Cr.