<![CDATA[The widespread use of mercury (Hg) in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) necessitates effective bioremediation strategies. This study evaluated the mercury reduction capabilities of two bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using real-world ASGM liquid waste. In a seven-day laboratory-scale experiment, we assessed the performance of single and mixed bacterial cultures under varying pH conditions. Our results show that B. subtilis was particularly effective, achieving a maximum Hg2+ removal efficiency of 90.07%. Critically, while the cell viability of single cultures declined significantly over the study period, mixed cultures maintained superior population stability, reaching 7.4 log CFU/mL on day 7, especially under alkaline conditions. This stability suggests a beneficial synergistic relationship between the two species. The enhanced long-term viability and robust detoxification mechanisms observed in the mixed culture system underscore the high potential of this approach for developing sustainable bioremediation solutions for the ASGM sector.]]>
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