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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation Mediated by Sporosarcina pasteurii
Published on: April 16, 2016
Biosynthesis of CaCO3 crystals of complex morphology using a fungus and an actinomycete
Debabrata Rautaray1, Absar Ahmad, Murali Sastry
1Materials Chemistry and Biochemical Sciences Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune-411 008, India.
Abstract:
The biosynthesis of CaCO3 by reaction of aqueous Ca2+ ions with a fungus, Fusarium sp., and an actinomycete, Rhodococcus sp. (both plant organisms), is described. In the case of the fungus, cruciform-shaped calcite crystals are obtained (SEM picture A) while the actinomycete yielded the unstable polymorph of CaCO3, vaterite (SEM picture B). Specific proteins secreted by the microorganisms are responsible for the morphology and crystallography control observed. A highlight of this approach is that the microorganisms also provide CO2 for reaction with the Ca2+ ions, making the crystals completely biogenic.
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