An Aspergillus aculateus strain was capable of producing agriculturally useful nanoparticles via bioremediation of iron ore tailings

Ankita Bedi; Braj Raj Singh; Sunil K Deshmukh; Alok Adholeya; Colin J Barrow

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.03.049

An Aspergillus aculateus strain was capable of producing agriculturally useful nanoparticles via bioremediation of iron ore tailings

J Environ Manage. 2018 Jun 1:215:100-107. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.03.049. Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Authors

Ankita Bedi¹, Braj Raj Singh², Sunil K Deshmukh², Alok Adholeya², Colin J Barrow³

Affiliations

¹ TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Division, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), DS Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India; Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia.
² TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Division, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), DS Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India.
³ Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia. Electronic address: cbarrow@deakin.edu.au.

PMID: 29567549
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.03.049

Abstract

Mining waste such as iron ore tailing is environmentally hazardous, encouraging researchers to develop effective bioremediation technologies. Among the microbial isolates collected from iron ore tailings, Aspergillus aculeatus (strain T6) showed good leaching efficiency and produced iron-containing nanoparticles under ambient conditions. This strain can convert iron ore tailing waste into agriculturally useful nanoparticles. Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR analysis) established the at the particles are protein coated, with energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX analysis) showing strong signals for iron. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM analysis) showed semi-quasi spherical particles having average size of 15 ± 5 nm. These biosynthesized nanoparticles when tested for their efficacy on seed emergence activity of mungbean (Vigna radiata) seeds, and enhanced plant growth at 10 and 20 ppm.

Keywords: Aspergillus aculeatus; Bioleaching; Bioremediation; Iron ore tailings; Nanoparticles; Plant growth.

MeSH terms

Aspergillus*
Biodegradation, Environmental
Iron*
Nanoparticles*
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

Iron