Bioremediation of heavy metals using a novel species of ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum isolated from industrial wastewater

Abstract The introduction of heavy metals by industries in the aquatic ecosystem is a threatening alarm for living organisms. Bioremediation an eco-friendly and inexpensive technique as alternative to chemical methods wastewater treatment. Wastewater samples were collected from ponds receiving effluents Kot Lakhpat Industrial zone, Lahore (Pakistan). Heavy metal-resistant ciliate, Paramecium multimicronucleatum was isolated characterized with help 18SrRNA biomarker. ciliate showed optimum growth at 25 °C ± 1 pH 7. Growth patterns P. observed without metal stress wheat grain medium. minimum inhibitory concentration cadmium, copper, zinc, lead 60, 70, 110, 160 μ g ml −1 , respectively. maximum uptake Paramecia Cd, Cu, Zn recorded 90%, 82%, 93% respectively after 96 h exposure each case. While 90% ions absorbed cells 48 exposure. order ability sp. 2+ > Cd Cu Pb . This preliminary study exploring bioremediation this would be helpful investigating it further using advanced molecular techniques.