CHARACTERIZATION OF ARSENITE OXIDIZING BACTERIA FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Resumen

This work is focuses on the mining town of Xichu, Guanajuato, where water has been contaminated by arsenic (As) since its river passes by the Aurora mine tailings. In the dry season a high concentration of As (98 μg L-1) has been detected, exceeding the limits established by the WHO (10μg L-1) and the Mexican norm NOM-127-SSA1 (25 μg L-1). Currently, due to the lack of economic resources in this rural area cannot be apply a conventional water treatment as chemical and physical methods are. Bioremediation of waters using heavy metal resistant bacteria-based technologies may provide a better alternative. It was statistically corroborated the capacity of 3 bacteria strains to interact with arsenite, showing their possible application during the oxidation process of arsenite or as a bioaccumulation process.