Removal of Methylmercury and Tributyltin (TBT) Using Marine Microorganisms

Abstract

Two marine species of bacteria were isolated that are capable of degrading organometallic contaminants: Pseudomonas balearica, which decomposes methylmercury; and Shewanella putrefaciens, which decomposes tributyltin. P. balearica decomposed 97% of methylmercury (20.0 mu g/L) into inorganic mercury after 3 h, while S. putrefaciens decomposed 88% of tributyltin (55.3 mu g Sn/L) in real wastewater after 36 h. These data indicate that the two bacteria efficiently decomposed the targeted substances and may be applied to real wastewater.