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Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation Mediated by Sporosarcina pasteurii
Published on: April 16, 2016
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CO2 sequestration by ureolytic microbial consortia through microbially-induced calcite precipitation
Tugba O Okyay1, Hang N Nguyen1, Sarah L Castro2
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4003, USA.
The Science of the Total Environment
|August 16, 2016
Summary
Certain bacteria can capture carbon dioxide (CO2) through microbially-induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Specific bacterial genera, like Sporosarcina and Sphingomonas, significantly enhance this CO2 sequestration process.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biogeochemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Urea, a nitrogen-rich compound, is biodegradable by ureolytic microorganisms possessing the urease enzyme.
- Some ureolytic microbes can sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) via microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify bacterial genera responsible for CO2 sequestration through MICP.
- To investigate CO2 sequestration capabilities of 15 ureolytic consortia from diverse environmental sources.
Main Methods:
- Deep-sequencing was used to determine the community structure and diversity of ureolytic consortia.
- CO2 sequestration and MICP rates were measured across different growth media and conditions.
Main Results:
- All investigated consortia exhibited variable CO2 sequestration (0–86.4%) and MICP rates.
- Consortia dominated by Sporosarcina, Sphingomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter, and Elizabethkingia showed higher CO2 uptake.
- Consortia with Comamonas, Plesiomonas, and Oxalobacter showed reduced CO2 sequestration.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial community structure significantly influences CO2 sequestration efficiency via MICP.
- Specific genera like Sporosarcina and Sphingomonas are key players in microbial CO2 capture and MICP.
Keywords:
Bacterial consortiaCO(2) sequestrationCaveMicrobially-induced carbonate precipitationTravertineUrease activityMore Related Videos
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