The use of biologically derived metal nanoparticles for various proposes is going to be an issue of
considerable importance; thus, appropriate methods should be developed and tested for the biological
synthesis and recovery of these nanoparticles from bacterial cells. In this research study, a strain of
Klebsiella pneumoniae was tested for its ability to synthesize elemental selenium nanoparticles from
selenium chloride. A broth of Klebsiella pneumoniae culture containing selenium nanoparticles was
subjected to sterilization at 121o C and 17 psi for 20 minutes. Released selenium nanoparticles ranged in
size from 100 to 550 nm, with an average size of 245 nm. Our study also showed that no chemical changes
occurred in selenium nanoparticles during the wet heat sterilization process. Therefore, the wet heat
sterilization process can be used successfully to recover elemental selenium from bacterial cells.
