Use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Bioremediation of Some Heavy Metals

Abstract

The study aimed to use of baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Bioremediation of some heavy
metals. Several isolates were obtained from different sources. These isolates were subjected to serial
diagnostic tests to ensure its belongings to S. cerevisiae. The ability of these isolations to remove of metal
elements under constant conditions including incubation period (24 hours), pH ( 6 ), temperature 25C°
and stirring speed (150 rpm / min) with inoculation size 1 × 106
cell / ml in a solution containing the metals
in a concentration of 1 mg/ L as individual or as a collection were investigated. The results have been
shown that the isolate which designated as Sc6 has the best ability to remove the metals over the all others.
Chrome, Lead, iron and copper removing efficiency as individual by this isolate were 47.35%, 70.87%,
95.15% and 50.28%, respectively with a rate of 43.63%. While the rate of removal efficiency of lead, iron
and copper as a group was 81.18%, but the rate of removal efficiency of chrome, nickel, cobalt and
cadmium as a group was only 19.00 %.