Development of enhanced bioremediation technology for the treatment of heavy-metal contaminated media( I )

Heavy metals are highly toxic. Exposure to heavy metals may lead to dysfunction of human health. Remediation of contamination of heavy metals is critical issues in environmental protection. Compared to physical or chemical processes, biological remediation (microbial bioremediation and phytoremediation) are more economy and environmental friendly approaches and also more acceptable by general public. Bioremediation of heavy metals by bacteria in association with the molecular biotechnology is a very promising approach. Therefore, indigenous strains of microorganisms isolated from mercury contaminated site will be the best candidates for microbial remediation of mercury. The indigenous microorganisms are excellent candidates to develop bioremediation approach for mercury contaminated area in situ. We hope to increase the ability of heavy metals by genetic engineering bacteria, and apply them to bioremediate heavy metals. The specific aims of this study are to (1) evaluate and characterize the ability of heay metals removal by engineering microorganisms harbouring metallothionein; (2) grow mercury removal microorganisms by lab scale fermentation; (3) develop the model of bioremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils by engineering microorganisms and metallothionein with pilot scale model in the lab.