International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 6 8 2017 08 10 Removal of lead and inhibition of algal growth using prodigiosin produced by serratia marcescens 1 6 EN Shaba A.M. 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru, Niger State, Nigeria Oyeleke S.B. 2 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Oyewole O.A. 3 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Mohammed S.S.D. 4 Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna State, Nigeria Salahudeen A.O. 5 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Ikekwem C.C. 6 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria > Research Paper 2017 5 14 2017 08 10 This study examined the removal of lead and inhibition of Anabaena sphaerica and Oscillatoria agardhii growth using prodigiosin produced by Serratia marcescens. Inhibition of the algal growth was studied by the addition of different concentration of prodigiosin 50µl, 100µl, 150µl in 90ml of algal culture. Control was without the pigment prodigiosin. Inhibition rates were determined at the interval of 72 hours of incubation using spectrophotometer. A.sphaerica record highest level of inhibition in all concentrations. It was observed to record highest levels of inhibition at 100µg/L concentration of prodigiosin which was 76.7%, while O.agardhii was 66.3% at the same concentration. At concentration of 50µg/L A.sphaerica record of 66.3% inhibition with O.agardhii recording 64.3% while at concentration of 150µg/L it was 67.2% and 66.5% respectively. Statically analysis shows no significant differences between the rate of inhibition by the two algal species studied but there was significant difference between concentration of prodigiosin and the rate of inhibition. Removal of lead polluted soil sample was studied by the addition of different concentration of prodigiosin 50µl, 100µl, 150µl to 5g of lead polluted soil in 90ml of distilled water. The lead removal rate was determined at the interval of 4 weeks of incubation for six months using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The result shows that 100µl of prodigiosin enhance high amount of lead removal from soil. The amount of lead immobilized by the pigment at 20 weeks was 52.5% and become stable after 24 weeks. This was followed by 50µL and 150µL of prodigiosin in which there was immobilization of 41.2% and 35.3% respectively at 20 weeks of treatment.The results suggest that the red pigment inhibited cyanobacteria growth and can be used as a potential for the removal of soil polluted with lead. Copyright@ International Science Community Association