Removal of Nickel (II) and Zinc (II) present in the Electroplating Industry Wastewater by Bioaccumulation Method

In the present work, the bioaccumulation study of electroplating industrial waste water using Micrococcus cascolyticus was carried out. The characteristics of the wastewater (pH, BOD, COD, TDS) were analyzed using standard method and it was found to be above permissible limit. The preliminary analysis for the bioaccumulation process was done by spread plate method and the concentration of the Nickel and Zinc was determined using standard method. After the bioaccumulation treatment, the aforesaid parameters were found to be below the permissible limit as prescribed by pollution control board. The removal percentage of Nickel and zinc present in the treated effluent was found to be 44.68 % and 48.76 % respectively. The maximum biomass for the Nickel and Zinc was found to be 5.8 g/l and 4.8 g/l respectively. For better bioaccumulation process, the parameters such as pH, Temperature, microbial volume, were optimized. The optimized temperature for the removal of Nickel and Zinc was found to be 50°C and 55°C respectively. Thus the Micrococcus cascolyticus has an ability to reduce the heavy metals concentration and other parameters (pH, BOD, COD, TDS) present in the waste water at the promising level.