Comparison of carbonate precipitation induced by Curvibacter sp. HJ-1 and Arthrobacter sp. MF-2: Further insight into the biomineralization process

Microorganisms are generally involved in the nucleation, growth and phase transformation of carbonate minerals, and influence the development of their morphology and polymorphism. However, understanding of the process of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) remains limited. Herein, MICP experiments were carried out using Cu vibacter sp. HJ-1 and Arthrobacter sp. MF-2 in M2 medium, and the processes of MICP were monitored. Bacterial cells induced the precipitation of carbonate by creating favorable physicochemical conditions and acting as nucleation templates for carbonate particles and thereby, markedly influenced the morphology and growth of the carbonate structure. The extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secreted by the bacteria was readily absorbed by the precipitated carbonate, which modified its crystal growth orientation. The MgCO3 content of Mg-calcite, induced by MF-2, was dramatically higher than that induced by HJ-1; HJ-1 promoted the formation and stability of aragonite. Multiple formation mechanisms coexisted during the evolution process of the mineral morphologies in the presence of the bacteria. The spherulites observed mainly evolved from dumbbell-like precursors in the presence of MF-2, whereas aggregate growth was the main formation mechanism of radial spherulites in the presence of HJ-1.