Co-remediation of pentachlorophenol and Cr6+ by free and immobilized cells of native Bacillus cereus isolate: Spectrometric characterization of PCP dechlorination products, bioreactor trial and chromate reductase activity

► High extent of PCP & Cr6+ removal at flask and bioreactor levels. ► Formation of PCP dechlorination products as evident by GC-MS analysis. ► Chromate reductase activity present both in culture supernatant and biomass. ► Immobilized biomass showed more Cr6+ removal than free bacterial cells. ► Possible use for in situ bioremediation of toxic Cr6+& PCP from tannery effluent.