Development of a protocol for synthesis of nanoparticles using heavy metal tolerant microorganisms
Student name: Ms Kshipra Sharma
Guide: Dr Ramakrishnan Sitaraman
Year of completion: 2010
Host Organisation: Centre for Mycorrhizal Research, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Division, The Energy a
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Alok Adholeya
Abstract: The most challenging area of research in nanotechnology is to develop clean, non-toxic, environment-friendly and reliable experimental protocols for the synthesis of nanoparticles of well-defined size, shape, shape, high monodispersity and composition. The use of microorganisms in the biosynthesis of nanoparticles will revoluntionize nanoparticle synthesis and holds considerable potential for development. The present project envisages the use of microbial strains isolated from serpentine soil for the intracellular biosynthesis of nickel and chromium nanoparticles. The suitable isolates were screened for heavy metal tolerance and subsequently synthesized nickel and chromium nanoparticles in the range of 5-70 nm when challenged with 1 mM salts of nickel, chromium or tannery effluent. The nanoparticles were concentrated mainly on the cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. However, only heavy metal accumulation was seen in some microbial isolates.
Keywords: Heavy metal, nanoparticles, serpentine soil, nickel & chromium, biosynthesis
