Abstract
Magnetic minerals produced by non-magnetotactic microbes include magnetite (Fe 3 O 4), greigite (Fe3S4) and pyrrhotite (Fe7S8). These are produced by a diverse range of Fe(III)-reducing, Fe(II)-oxidising and sulfate-reducing prokaryotes. The mechanisms of formation of magnetic minerals by bacteria are still under investigation, and have been studied most intensively in Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing bacteria. In the subsurface, the formation of magnetic Fe(II)-bearing minerals can affect the mobility of contaminants through sequestration of toxic metals such as zinc or the reduction of metals such as uranium(VI) or organic contaminants. This review covers the mechanisms of magnetic biomineral synthesis by a diversity of non-magnetotactic prokaryotes, and also discusses their potential biotechnological exploitation in a range of applications including bioremediation and the construction of magnetic recording devices and catalytic systems.
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