Speciation of Arsenic in Medium Containing Bacterial Strains of Lysinibacillus boronitolerans and Bacillus cereus: Mechanism of Arsenic Removal

Naidilene Chaves Aguilar, Adriele Santos Van Der Maas, Mayra Soares Santos, Rodrigo de Carvalho Hott, Márcia Cristina da Silva Faria, Bruno Lemos Batista, Cleide Aparecida Bomfeti, João Paulo de Mesquita and Jairo Lisboa Rodrigues ()
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Naidilene Chaves Aguilar: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Adriele Santos Van Der Maas: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Mayra Soares Santos: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Rodrigo de Carvalho Hott: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Márcia Cristina da Silva Faria: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Bruno Lemos Batista: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André 09210-170, São Paulo, Brazil
Cleide Aparecida Bomfeti: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil
João Paulo de Mesquita: Faculdade de Ciências Exatas (FACET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Jairo Lisboa Rodrigues: Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ICET), Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Teófilo Otoni 39803-371, Minas Gerais, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: Environmental issues have become increasingly critical and frequent in recent decades due to excessive population growth and intensified industrial and mining activities. Among the most concerning contaminants is arsenic (As), a toxic element associated with severe environmental and human health risks. This study aimed to investigate the bioremediation potential of the bacterial strains Lysinibacillus boronitolerans and Bacillus cereus , elucidating the mechanisms involved in arsenic transformation and removal under controlled conditions. The strains were cultivated in liquid medium containing known concentrations of As(III) and As(V), and the chemical forms of arsenic were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS). The production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and arsenite oxidase activity were also evaluated. Morphological and elemental analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The bacterial strains exhibited significant 69.38–85.72% reductions in arsenic concentration and approximately 14–15% volatilization rates. No EPS production or arsenite oxidase activity was detected, suggesting alternative detoxification pathways. SEM-EDS analyses revealed intracellular accumulation of arsenic, while LC-ICP-MS speciation confirmed interconversion between As(III) and As(V), indicating the action of methylation-dependent detoxification and membrane transport mechanisms. The findings demonstrate that L. boronitolerans and B. cereus possess efficient arsenic resistance and transformation mechanisms, even without conventional enzymatic pathways. These strains show strong potential for use in sustainable bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated environments, particularly in regions affected by mining activities.

Keywords: bioremediation; mining; arsenic; bacteria; soil; speciation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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