Production of lactic and acetic acids by Bacillus sp. ZM20 and Bacillus cereus following exposure to zinc oxide: A possible mechanism for Zn solubilization

Zinc (Zn) occurs in high concentrations in heavy metal polluted ecosystems which are colonized by bacterial populations. Some members of these communities are attractive candidates for phytoremediation of Zn-contaminated soils as they are able to convert insoluble forms of Zn into soluble forms, making Zn available to plants as a micronutrient. However, mechanisms of bacterial Zn solubilization and homeostasis are often not well understood. In...