Four arsenic resistant yeast were isolated from the industrial wastewater. Two strains IIB-As1 and IIB-As2 identified as Candida tropicalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. IIB-As1 and IIB-As2 showed maximum arsenic resistance. IIB-As1 showed maximum growth at 35 °C whereas it was 30 °C for IIB-As2. The yeast isolate showed typical growth curves, but arsenic extended the lag phase. Glutathione plays an important role in metal tolerance. In the present study, As increased the level glutathione and non-protein thiols in yeast isolates. Removal of As from supernatant was analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. They removed arsenic from the medium after 72 h of incubation. Both yeast strains efficiently removed arsenic from the industrial effluent when used individually or in consortia.
Keywords: Arsenic processing; Bioremediation; Candida tropicalis; Glutathione; Growth optimization; Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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