Study of biomineral formation by bacteria from soil solution equilibria

• Published in: Reactive & functional polymers Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 265 - 271
• Main Authors: Párraga, J., Rivadeneyra, M.A., Delgado, R., Iñiguez, J., Soriano, M., Delgado, G.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomineralization; Calcite; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gypsum; Halophilic bacteria; Microbial ecology; Mineral equilibria; Mineralogy; Non silicates; Saline soil; Soil; Soil solution; Soils; SOLMINEQ 88; Surficial geology; Halophilic bacteria; Biomineralization; Gypsum; Soil solution; Calcite; Saline soil; Mineral equilibria; SOLMINEQ 88; Microbial activity; SOIL BIOLOGY; Solonchak; biomineralization; Dolomite; Mineralogy; Computing; Calcium sulfate; Computer program; Spherulites; Halophily; Mineralization; Non silicate mineral; Bacteria; Soil science; Carbonates; mineral equilibria; Solid medium; Laboratory study; Chemical precipitation; Crystallization; Magnesium carbonate; Liquid medium; Bioinorganic chemistry; Equilibrium; Bacteriology; Aragonite; Biogeochemistry; bioliths; Calcium carbonate
• ISSN: 1381-5148
• DOI: 10.1016/S1381-5148(97)00158-2

The role of bacteria in mineral neoformation in a saline soil was studied. In this soil, authigenic precipitation of gypsum and calcite takes place. Bacteria isolated from the soil were cultivated ‘in vitro’ in solid and liquid media prepared from soil solutions (1: 1 extract). Precipitation of calcite spherulites of between 20 and 50 μm diameter and of other bioliths was observed. From soil solutions (1 : 1 extract and saturation extract) activity coefficients and the states of reaction for 18 minerals were calculated using the SOLMINEQ 88 program. Calcite, dolomite, gypsum and aragonite were in equilibrium with the saturation extract while in the 1:1 extract no mineral phases in equilibrium were present. Therefore, bacteria must play an active role in calcite precipitation in this saline soil.