a.  Ecology and Environment Division, Forest Research Institute Dehradun India

b.  Scientist-C, Forest Soil and Land Reclamation Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India

*Corresponding author’s Email: bini.samal@gmail.com

 Bioremediation is the use of living organisms (primarily microorganisms) for removal of a pollutant from the biosphere. It relies on biological processes to minimize an unwanted environment impact of the pollutants. The microorganisms in particular have the abilities to degrade, detoxify and even accumulate the harmful organic as well as inorganic compounds. Five soil samples were collected from Selaqui industrial area, from different places at a depth of 0-15 cm. These soil samples were subjected to dilution (1:10), then from these dilution 4 and 5 were used for inoculation. Nutrient agar plates were prepared to be used as media. Replica of each dilution was prepared. After 24 hours of incubation at 28 degree centigrade bacterial colonies were observed on the plates. These cultures were purified to get 10 bacterial cultures. Further these cultures were inoculated in 10ml of nutrient broths each and after dense growth were inoculated in 10gm of soil samples in petriplates and were incubated for four days and then copper was estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry technique and compared with the levels of copper obtained that were not inoculated with bacterial strains. The soil samples collected are all alkaline in nature; all the 10 isolated bacteria are gram negative and are chained cocci in structure. Sample 1 and 2, both dilutions have shown reduction in the amount of copper as compared to original soil samples without bacterial inoculation. According to this research sample 1 and sample 2 have shown reduction in the copper levels as compared to the raw soil samples that is without bacterial inoculation in them.

Keywords: Bacteria, Bioremediation, Heavy metals.