Immobilization of Bacteriophages in a Calcium Alginate Biopolymeric Matrix for Biosorption of Hg(II) in Aqueous Media

Aiming to address the recurring problem of mercury contamination in Amazonian water sources—caused by its illegal use in gold mining—bacteriophages immobilized in calcium alginate microparticles were used for the adsorption of mercury ions. Mercury is known to be the most concerning pollutant for local fauna and flora, as well as for residents of riverside communities, who have been severely affected by the organic forms of Hg(II), such as methylmercury and dimethylmercury. These highly toxic compounds, produced through microbial metabolic processes, enter the food chain by accumulating in fish tissue and result in serious health effects, including neurodegeneration, fetal malformations, and pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders. For this reason, the application of microorganisms in mercury bioremediation becomes unfeasible. Instead, we employed the known properties of bacteriophages in the biomineralization process—specifically, their ability to associate with metals and form stable nanospheres in anoxic environments. This process contributes to the reduction in these highly contaminating and hazardous ions in aquatic environments, helping to protect populations who rely on rivers for their subsistence. Experiments with different concentrations of HgCl2 ( 1-20 uM) were conducted, and the results were promising, retaining 31,51% of Hg (II) on biopolymeric matrix, so the application of bacterial viruses in bioremediation seems to be possible. The research is currently analyzing real samples from various regions of Brazil to further evaluate the feasibility of this technology.