Method for reducing bio-availability of lead by a lead-sequestering soil bacterium

Abstract

Bioavailability of lead and other heavy metals in the environment may be reduced by addition of microorganisms which sequester lead from the environment in the presence of phosphate. The microorganisms are highly mobile and are, therefore, capable of scavenging a material for lead, which they then sequester. The method basically consists of reducing bioavailability of lead in the environment by addition of Pseudomonas aeroginosa strain CHL004 to said environment in the presence of phosphate which contains at least stoichiometric equivalent amounts of phosphate to lead.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A composition of matter comprising  Pseudomonas aeroginosa  strain CHL004 growing on a solid matrix wherein said matrix is in an environment in the presence of sufficient phosphate to provide at least one stoichiometric equivalent amount of phosphate to lead.  
     
     
         2 . A composition of  claim 1  wherein the support is a synthetic polymer.  
     
     
         3 . A composition of claim  11  wherein the support is activated carbon.  
     
     
         4 . A composition of matter comprising  Pseudomonas aeroginosa  strain CHL004 growing on a solid matrix wherein said matrix also contains iron.  
     
     
         5 . A composition of  claim 4  in an environment containing arsenic.  
     
     
         6 . A composition of  claim 4  in an environment containing cadmium.