Abstract
Scanning and transmission electron microscopic examination of drain precipitates revealed the presence of a slime/organic layer and fungi, bacteria (including filamentous and Fe bacteria), and possibly actinomycetes. Most of the filamentous structures were encrusted with Fe and Mn compounds. Treating the samples with acidified NH2OH.HCl and leucoberbelin blue revealed some structures similar to Hyphomicrobium and Pedomicrobium spp., yeast cells, cocci, fungal spores, and relics of diatoms and amoebae. Both, scanning and transmission electron microscope-energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays showed a clear association of microbial structures with Fe and Mn oxides. It was suggested that Fe and Mn were being precipitated in the drains. However, the precipitates were not stable under natural conditions, and therefore we concluded that these precipitated oxides were also undergoing reductive dissolution. It thus appeared that precipitation of Fe and Mn, particularly Mn, had been mediated microbiologically in the drains.
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