Microbially Mediated Calcium Carbonate Precipitation: Implications for Interpreting Calcite Precipitation and for Solid-Phase Capture of Inorganic Contaminants

Microbial degradation of urea was investigated as a potential geochemical catalyst for Ca carbonate precipitation and associated solid phase capture of common groundwater contaminants (Sr, UO2, Cu) in laboratory batch experiments. Bacterial degradation of urea increased pH and promoted Ca carbonate precipitation in both bacterial control and contaminant treatments. Associated solid phase capture of Sr was highly effective, capturing 95% of the 1 mM Sr added within 24 h. The results for Sr are consistent with solid solution formation rather than discrete Sr carbonate phase precipitation. In contrast, UO2 capture was not as effective, reaching only 30% of the initial 1 mM UO2 added, and also reversible, dropping to 7% by 24 h. These results likely reflect differing sites of incorporation of these two elements-Ca lattice sites for Sr versus crystal defect sites for UO2. Cu sequestration was poor, resulting from toxicity of the metal to the bacteria, which arrested urea degradation and concomitant Ca carbonat...

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