Global anthropogenic pollution has caused great damage to the soil ecosystem. Chemical metallic agents, such as heavy metals, at low concentration, cause soil contamination. Most food products are often contaminated due to soil unsuitability, making them harmful to human health. Plants have phytoextraction capacity, so they are used to promote soil decontamination. To accelerate this process, bacteria are added and used to promote a further increase in the plant's absorption capacity. The main objective of our research is to determine the effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on the phytoremediation process of heavy metals by Sida rhombifolia L. We propose to use Pseudomonas fluorescens to accelerate the phytoremediation process of Sida rhombifolia L. This is a wild plant that can adapt to any type of soil in the tropical and subtropical zone. The specific objectives to achieve our goal are 1) to determine the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens in agricultural soil by bacterial microbiology analysis and 2) to identify the presence of chromium (Cr) by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) techniques. For this purpose, a group of Sida rhombifolia L. species were planted in agricultural areas located on the west coast of Puerto Rico. In the analysis of bacterial microbiology, Brain Heart Infusion Agar (BHIA) and Nutrient Agar (NA) were used for bacterial culture to observe which culture medium was more efficient and to observe the growth of colonies to subsequently identify Pseudomonas fluorescens in the soil. After colony formation, biochemical tests are performed to identify Pseudomonas fluorescens. A large amount of bacterial flora was detected at a depth of 3 inches, in which we will identify the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Cr, wil be detected at a depth of 3 to 8 inches, in the soil.

Detection of Pseudomonas fluorescens and heavy metals as potential factors of efficiency in a phytoremediation process of Sida rhombifolia L

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.