Bacterial bioabsorption of nickel from industrial cooling water

Three bacterial strains tolerant to the presence of 100 mg litre(-1) nickel ions were isolated from a water reclamation system. Each organism was tested for ability to accumulate nickel at the above-mentioned concentration. The organism capable of maximum nickel accumulation was identified as an Enterobacter sp. and intracellular nickel deposition by this microorganism was determined using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and transmission electron microscopy. A metal-staining technique for light microscopy was developed. Further studies revealed that growth and glucose utilisation by this isolate was inhibited in culture by nickel.