Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Bacteria Against Contamination

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CARACAS, Sep 15 2003 (IPS) - The chemistry department of the University of Carabobo in Valencia, central Venezuela, is investing the use of thermophile bacteria, which exist at temperatures of 40 to 60 degrees Celsius, as biological catalysts for destroying organic material that has contaminated Cabriales River and Lake Valencia. The bacteria are taken from Las Trincheras hot springs. “It is a matter of using the proteins and enzymes that these bacteria produce to eliminate organic waste in industry and in lakes and rivers,” says researcher Jeff Wilkesman.

These potential decontaminating agents produce two types of enzymes: protease, which degrade proteins and could destroy organic compounds in sewage, and glucanase, which feed on starches and could be useful in treating textile industry waste.