Study on the Composition of Biogenic Iron-Containing Materials Obtained Under Cultivation of the Leptothrix sp. on...

The biogenic iron oxide/hydroxide materials possess useful combination of physicochemical properties and are considered for application in various areas. Their production does not require special investments because these compounds are formed during cultivation of neurophilic iron bacteria. Bacteria from genus Leptothrix develop intensively in the Sphaerotilus-Leptothrix group of bacteria isolation medium and feeding media of Fedorov and Lieske. These media are different in their composition which determined the present study as an attempt to clear up the reasons that define the differences in the composition of the laboratory-obtained biomasses and the natural biomass finds. FTIRS, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and XRD were used in the research. Comparative analysis showed that the biomass and control samples contain iron compounds (α-FeOOH, γ-FeOOH, β-FeOOH, γ-Fe₂O₃) in different ratios. The biomass samples were enriched in oxyhydroxides of higher dispersion. Organic residuals of bacterial origin, SO₄, CO₃, and PO₄ groups were registered in the biogenic materials.