IDENTIFICATION, PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MERCURY RESISTANT BACTERIA FROM CHLOR-ALKALI INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTPadhy, D.N. and Panigrahi, A.K.Abstract Heavy metal contamination near chlor-alkali industry was mainly due to mercury as it was used as an electrolyte in the electrolysis of brine for preparation of caustic soda and chlorine. Mercury, a liquid heavy metal, is most toxic as it remains in the body of the organisms affecting the biota. Mercury remains in the environment for years and can be a potent contaminant even after years of its discharge from industry. Bacteria survive and grow in the effluent and contaminated areas showing a possible way of reclamation. Effluent sample was tested for such mercury resistant bacteria surviving in the effluent canal. A group of 5 bacteria were isolated from the effluent out of which 2 bacterial isolates has shown promising role in mercury resistance at 30mM and 40 mM of HgCl2. Biochemical characterization confirmed that these bacterial species belonging to the genus Vibrio. |