آزاده زهرا فاطمی - PhD. Candidate, Dept. of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
محمد طباطبایی - Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
عبداله درخشنده - Prof., Dept. of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
سید مهدی برقعی - Prof., Dept. of Chemical and Civil Engineering, School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
مسعود نوشادی - Prof., Dept. of Water Engineering, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

There is an urgent need for the removal of arsenic (As) from groundwater and wastewater as it is a very hazardous heavy metal for human and environmental health. In this research, As-resistant and oxidizing bacteria were isolated from the Maharloo Lake (۲۷ km southeast of Shiraz city) and identified to a great extent. Three isolated bacillus-shaped strains (called F۵, F۶ and F۷) tolerated up to ۱ M AsNaO۲, grew up to ۳.۵ M NaCl and pH ۱۲, and consumed NaSCN and Na۲S۲O۳. The molecular analysis confirmed the originality of the strains to a high extent. The As absorption rate by these bacteria was measured by the atomic absorption method, and their effect was examined on a water sample from the south of Kerman city (Iran) and a synthetic wastewater sample with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of about ۱۸۰,۰۰۰ kg/m۳ that was able to absorb high levels of arsenic.

Extremophile, ARSENIC, Industrial Wastewater, Alkaliphilic, Maharloo Lake