Potential Use of a Ciliate, Vorticella microstoma, Surviving in Lead Containing Industrial Effluents in Waste Water Treatment

The capability of a lead tolerating ciliate Vorticella microstoma isolated from industrial wastewater of tanneries of Kasur, to reduce the concentration of lead ions in the medium was determined and its potential use as bioremediator of wastewater was evaluated. The ciliate tolerated 150µg/ml of lead, and showed optimum growth at 25°C and at pH 7.5. The protozoan culture grown in medium containing 10 µg/ml of lead could reduce 92% of Pb 2+ from the medium after 48 hours, 96% after 72 hours and 98% after 96 hours of incubation. On acid digestion of the ciliate it was found that it accumulated 92% of Pb 2+ ions from the medium. The heavy metal uptake ability of Vorticella microstoma can be exploited for metal detoxification and environmental clean-up operations.