Abstract

In the current industrialized world, uses of batteries have gained importance as
a result of its high performance and energy storage system. Though, battery was
considered safe and produced less carbon foot print, it also has its ill effects such
as heavy metal contamination in water and soil, which is also at its threshold
to be addressed. Here comes the concern, about the elevated heavy metal
concentration especially chromium in the environment and its health hazards
exerted over all living organisms. Thus, as an approach towards the bio sorption
of chromium from environment, fungal isolates obtained from soil samples of HEB
effluent were screened for their resistance and efficiency. Among the 36 fungal
isolates attained, Aspergillus was found to be most predominant in both eastern
and western area, as well as more resistant to chromium even at 1000 ppm.
On further optimization of pH, Temperature, incubation period, carbon source,
nitrogen source and phosphorous, it concluded that medium with Glucose, malt
extract and potassium dihydrogen phosphate at pH 5 showed significant growth
and proficient absorption of chromium under static condition. The 18s rRNA gene
sequencing of the effectual organism revealed to be Aspergillus niger (KY354579)
with 99 % according to BLAST analysis.