Luminescence biosensor design for toxicity assessment of heavy metals extracted from contaminated soils by biosurfactants
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Reza Hajimohammadi
Reza Hajimohammadi is an assistant professor at the Islamic Azad University of Ahar. His research is mainly focused on nanoemulsions and biosurfactant production and application of biosurfactants in petroleum industry.
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Farid Sattarpour
Farid Sattarpour received MSc degree from East Mediterranean University, Cyprus in Polymer Chemistry in 2022, now he is a PhD candidate and research assistant in East Mediterranean University.
Amirhossein Dolatzadeh Khiavi received BSc and MSc degrees in chemical engineering from Tabriz University in 2008 and 2012, respectively. He received PhD degree from Ahar Azad University in 2020. Now he is a researcher in DAANA Pharma Company.
Amirreza Mahmoudi received MSc degree in Health Safety Environmental (HSE) Engineering from Azad University of Ahar. Now he is HSE manager in mining industry.
Abstract
Soil contamination, often by toxic compounds, is a major environmental challenge. In this research, a luminescence biosensor was developed for the detection and toxicity assessment of Zn2+, Cr6+, Ni2+ and Cu2+. Initially, the presented metals were extracted from the soil by combining two strong biosurfactants of saponin and rhamnolipid. The maximum extraction efficiency of the soil washing process was about 85 %, 68 %, 59 % and 55 % for Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn respectively at an optimum hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 10.5. Immobilized Escherichia coli (E. coli) Luc was used as luminescent bacteria for the detection of heavy metals. The optimum aeration rate of the designed biosensor was 30 mL min−1. The toxic effect of heavy metals on E. coli with Luc plasmid gene bacterium was determined for each heavy metal using the effective concentration (EC50). When the bioluminescence intensity (BL) decreased to half, the EC50 was determined to be (0.042, 0.125, 12 and 56) mg L−1 for Cu2+, Zn2+, Cr6+ and Ni2+ respectively. Therefore, the toxicity sensitivity of heavy metals is in the order of Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Cr6+ > Ni2+. From the obtained results it seems that the washing process using biosurfactants and designed biosensor is very useful for monitoring toxic heavy metals from cost and environmental point of view.
About the authors
Reza Hajimohammadi is an assistant professor at the Islamic Azad University of Ahar. His research is mainly focused on nanoemulsions and biosurfactant production and application of biosurfactants in petroleum industry.
Farid Sattarpour received MSc degree from East Mediterranean University, Cyprus in Polymer Chemistry in 2022, now he is a PhD candidate and research assistant in East Mediterranean University.
Amirhossein Dolatzadeh Khiavi received BSc and MSc degrees in chemical engineering from Tabriz University in 2008 and 2012, respectively. He received PhD degree from Ahar Azad University in 2020. Now he is a researcher in DAANA Pharma Company.
Amirreza Mahmoudi received MSc degree in Health Safety Environmental (HSE) Engineering from Azad University of Ahar. Now he is HSE manager in mining industry.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Discussion
- Introduction of a ‘short eco’ programme: new data and insights supporting the use of automatic dishwashing to reduce energy and water use in European households
- Contribution to the current debate on the optimisation of the real-life-efficiency of automatic domestic dishwashers by using short programs with ‘high-performance’ detergents
- Hard-Surface Cleaning
- Performance of vicinal diols ethoxylate containing double hydrophilic headgroups in metal cleaner formulations
- Physical Chemistry
- Study of influence of salt additives on the electrical percolation phenomenon in AOT reverse microemulsions
- Adsorption studies of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 on slaked lime
- Novel Surfactants
- Double headed alkyl triazole glycosides – alternatives for APGs with increased hydrophilicity – part 2: biodegradability and toxicity investigation
- Synthesis and properties of osteopeptide derived surfactants
- Biosurfactants
- Luminescence biosensor design for toxicity assessment of heavy metals extracted from contaminated soils by biosurfactants
- Applications
- Advanced reverse micellar extraction: a high-efficiency approach for sustainable removal of Xylenol Orange from wastewater
- Synergistic application of air-foam flooding and corrosion inhibition technologies: mechanisms and performance evaluation in enhanced oil recovery systems
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Discussion
- Introduction of a ‘short eco’ programme: new data and insights supporting the use of automatic dishwashing to reduce energy and water use in European households
- Contribution to the current debate on the optimisation of the real-life-efficiency of automatic domestic dishwashers by using short programs with ‘high-performance’ detergents
- Hard-Surface Cleaning
- Performance of vicinal diols ethoxylate containing double hydrophilic headgroups in metal cleaner formulations
- Physical Chemistry
- Study of influence of salt additives on the electrical percolation phenomenon in AOT reverse microemulsions
- Adsorption studies of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 on slaked lime
- Novel Surfactants
- Double headed alkyl triazole glycosides – alternatives for APGs with increased hydrophilicity – part 2: biodegradability and toxicity investigation
- Synthesis and properties of osteopeptide derived surfactants
- Biosurfactants
- Luminescence biosensor design for toxicity assessment of heavy metals extracted from contaminated soils by biosurfactants
- Applications
- Advanced reverse micellar extraction: a high-efficiency approach for sustainable removal of Xylenol Orange from wastewater
- Synergistic application of air-foam flooding and corrosion inhibition technologies: mechanisms and performance evaluation in enhanced oil recovery systems
