Abstract
This paper describes a series of experiments that determine the effects that nonmetabolizing bacterial cells have on the precipitation of Cu(OH)2(s). Copper adsorption and precipitation onto the gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis was measured using batch experiments in 0.1 M NaClO4 as a function of pH, and aqueous Cu activity at 25° C. To differentiate between adsorption and precipitation of Cu onto the bacterial cell walls, we utilized equilibrium solubility measurements in control and bacteria-bearing systems along with surface complexation modeling. Because we explicitly account for Cu adsorption, and because the control experiments clearly define the saturation concentrations, these experiments constrain the conditons at which mineral precipitation occurs both in bacteria-bearing and bacteria-free systems. The bacteria-bearing systems exhibit enhanced Cu-removal from solution relative to the bacteria-free control experiments at pH values less than those at which Cu precipitates in control experiments. However, the enhanced adsorption can be best explained by accounting for Cu adsorption onto the bacterial cell wall; because the precipitation curve observed in the bacteria-bearing systems is coincident with that observed in the control experiments the results of these experiments demonstrate that nonmetabolizing bacteria cell walls do not induce Cu(OH)2(s) precipitation at otherwise undersaturated conditions.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.