Isolation and characterization of chromate resistant bacteria from tannery effluent.

The tannery effluent emanating from Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Unnao (U.P, India) was found toxic in nature, having high BOD, COD, TDS and Cr content (5.88 mg l(-1)), which supported growth of chromate tolerant bacteria. Several chromate tolerant bacteria have been isolated from these effluent and maximum tolerant four strains (NBRIP-1, NBRIP-2, NBRIP-3 and NBRIP-4) were characterized in this study. These strains showed multiple metal and antibiotic resistances. Growth of these strains was reduced at higher Cr concentration with extention of lag phase. Chromium accumlulation by these isolates may have a great potential in recovery and detoxification of Cr from tannery effluent.