Thermodynamics of cleaning-up of waste waters polluted by chromium

The effect of Cr(VI) on Desulfovibrio vulgaris strain Hildenborough bioenergetic metabolism was monitored by microcalorimetry and the concomitant reduction of this metal was studied. Results showed that Cr(VI) is reduced by the bacterium and that the bacterial growth is altered, involving a strong modification of the metabolism of the bacteria. An absence of correlation between Cr(VI) reduction and cell growth is observed, suggesting that Cr(VI) does not yield energy to support anaerobic growth. The analysis of the enzymatic characteristics of Cr(VI) reduction are in progress.