Sains Malaysiana 44(2)(2015): 233–238

Cyanide Degradation by Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenesStrain W2 Isolated from

Mining Effluent

(Penguraian Sianida oleh Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes Strain W2

Dipencilkan daripada Sisa Air Lombong)

BELINDA TIONG¹, ZARATULNUR MOHD BAHARI¹, NOR SAHSLIN IRWAN SHAH LEE¹, JAFARIAH JAAFAR², ZAHARAH IBRAHIM¹ & SHAFINAZ SHAHIR¹*

¹Department of Biosciences and Health Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

81310 Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 24 Oktober 2013/Diterima: 25 Julai 2014

ABSTRACT

Cyanide is highly toxic to the living organisms as it inhibits respiration system in the cell mitochondria. Cyanide is commonly used in gold extraction process and its discharge into the environment not only causes pollution but it also brings harm to the surrounding population. Chemical treatment is expensive and the use of hazardous compound can exacerbate the problem. Biodegradation offers cheap and safe alternative as it overcomes the problems faced by chemical treatment. In this study, indigenous bacteria from mining wastewater were isolated. Cyanide degradation was done via shake flask method. A bacterium, designated W2 was found able to grow in the mining wastewater. 16S rRNA analysis identified the strain as Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes which could tolerate up to 39 mg/L cyanide concentration and growth was depleted at 52 mg/L. 60% cyanide degradation was achieved in wastewater containing medium. End-product analysis from high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detected formamide implicating the role of cyanide hydratase in cyanide degradation. It can be concluded that P. pseudoalcaligenes is capable of biodegrading cyanide and its potential in wastewater treatment containing cyanide is feasible.

Keywords: Biodegradation; bioremediation; cyanide; mining wastewater; Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes

ABSTRAK

Sianida adalah sangat toksik kepada organisma hidup, kerana ia menghalang sistem respirasi dalam sel mitokondria. Sianida biasanya digunakan dalam proses pengekstrakan emas dan pembebasannya ke alam sekitar bukan sahaja menyebabkan pencemaran tetapi ia juga membawa kemudaratan kepada populasi sekitar. Rawatan kimia adalah mahal dan penggunaan sebatian yang berbahaya memburukkan lagi masalah sedia ada. Biopenguraian menawarkan alternatif yang murah dan selamat, oleh itu ia mengatasi masalah yang dihadapi oleh rawatan kimia. Dalam kajian ini, bakteria asli daripada air sisa perlombongan berjaya dipencilkan. Analisis penguraian sianida telah dilakukan melalui kaedah goncangan kelalang. Sejenis bakteria, dinamakan W2 didapati mampu tumbuh di dalam air sisa perlombongan. Analisis 16S rRNA mengenal pasti bakteria tersebut sebagaiPseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes dan ia boleh bertoleransi sehingga 39 mg/L kepekatan sianida dan pertumbuhan telah berkurangan pada kepekatan sebanyak 52 mg/L. 60% penguraian telah dicapai di dalam medium yang mengandungi air sisa. Analisis produk-akhir daripada kromatografi cecair prestasi tinggi (HPLC) telah mengesan formamida yang mengaitkan peranan sianida hidratas dalam penguraian sianida. Dapat disimpulkan bahawaPseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes yang dipencilkan berupaya menguraikan sianida dan potensi dalam rawatan air sisa mengandungi sianida boleh dilaksanakan.

Kata kunci: Air sisa lombong; biopemulihan; biopenguraian; Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes; sianida

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: shafinazshahir@utm.my