Microbial recovery of vanadium by the acidophilic bacterium, Acidocella aromatica

To investigate the bioreduction of toxic pentavalent vanadium [vanadate; V(V)] in the acidophilic, Fe(III)-reducing obligately heterotrophic bacterium, Acidocella aromatica PFBC.

Although the initial lag-phase of growth became extended with increasing initial V(V) concentrations, the final cell density during aerobic growth of A. aromatica PFBC was unaffected by up to 2 mM V(V). While strain PFBC is an aerobe, growth-decoupled PFBC cell suspensions directly reduced V(V) using fructose, both micro-aerobically and anaerobically, under highly acidic (pH 2) and moderately acidic (pH 4.5) conditions. Bio reduced V(IV) was subsequently precipitated even under micro-aerobic conditions, mostly by encrusting the cell surface. An anaerobic condition at pH 4.5 was optimal for forming and maintaining stable V(IV)-precipitates. Recovery of approx. 70 % of V(V) from the solution phase was made possible with V(V) at 1 mM.

The first case of direct V(V) reducing ability and its subsequent V recovery from the solution phase was shown in acidophilic prokaryotes. Possible utilities of V(V) bioreduction in acidic conditions, are discussed.