merged

Application of Rhamnolipid for Heavy Metal Removal in Mangrove
Sediment
Raveena Kumarasamy
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof Dr. Kesaven Bhubalan
Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology)
School of Marine and Environmental Sciences
Mangrove soils are able to confine and store toxic and non-biodegradable heavy
metals that may lead to accumulation in aquatic organisms and pollute the food chain.
Biosurfactants are microbial-derived surface-active compounds which are
biodegradable and of low toxicity with the ability to remove heavy metals from soil
and sediments. The main objective of this research was to test rhamnolipid, a
glycolipid biosurfactant produced by marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa
UMTKB-5 for the removal of heavy metals (lead and zinc) in mangrove sediments. The
rhamnolipid was produced using glycerol as the carbon source and 1.80g/L of
rhamnolipid was obtained. The removal of lead and zinc from soils was up to 76% and
31% respectively four days after the rhamnolipid solution was added to the sediment.
The results showed that rhamnolipid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa UMTKB-5 could
be a potential biomaterial used to remediate heavy metal in mangrove sediment.
1837 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018