Kinetics of chromium reduction by mixed cultures during growth phase

Hexavalent chromium reduction kinetic parameters were estimated for several mixed cultures using molasses as the carbon source and nitrate as the term inal electron acceptor. Mixed cultures were enriched from diverse environme ntal sources, and kinetic parameter comparisons are made between the consor tia and a pure culture grown under the same conditions. A statistical analy sis of the results indicated that some kinetic parameters exhibited signifi cant differences, whereas others did not. It should be noted that those par ameters with statistically significant differences were nonetheless numeric ally similar. Conservative values, therefore, could be assumed, or site-spe cific data obtained, for those parameters to design in situ bioremediation of chromium-contaminated sites.