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Abstract: Infrared absorption spectra of xCaO(1− x − z)SiO2 zP2O5 glass system with a CaO:SiO2 molar ratio 3:2 and with 0.0⩽ z ⩽0.5 are examined in the region 4000–400cm−1, together with XRD. Deconvoluted spectra were analyzed to determine the position and relative amounts of the IR bands responsible for the different silicate and phosphate units. Bonding mechanism such as Si–O–Si, Si–O–Ca, P–O–P, O–P–O, P13;O− etc. is suggested for random arrangement. A variation in the band positions and the relative amounts of various bonds with P2O5 is also shown. The result indicates that P5+ occupies the network position and forms the linkage Si–O–P in the glass for higher amount of P2O5. This Si–O–P bond may lead to the formation of five and six coordinated silicon in the glass matrix. The bands related to bending mode of H2O molecules and the stretching mode of P–O–H groups forming hydrogen bonding are shown to result in several bands in the 1521–1700 and 1758–3059cm−1 range, respectively. X-ray diffraction pattern of the base samples, within the detection limit, shows that all are homogeneous glasses and on optical inspection they did not show any evidence of phase separation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Selenium (Se) nanoparticles are often synthesized by anaerobes. However, anaerobic bacteria cannot be directly applied for bioremediation of contaminated top soil which is generally aerobic. In this study, a selenite-reducing bacterium, Citrobacter freundii Y9, demonstrated high selenite reducing power and produced elemental nano-selenium nanoparticles (nano-Se 0 ) under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The biogenic nano-Se 0 converted 45.8–57.1% and 39.1–48.6% of elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) in the contaminated soil to insoluble mercuric selenide (HgSe) under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, respectively. Addition of sodium dodecyl sulfonate enhanced Hg 0 remediation, probably owing to the release of intracellular nano-Se 0 from the bacterial cells for Hg fixation. The reaction product after remediation was identified as non-reactive HgSe that was formed by amalgamation of nano-Se 0 and Hg 0 . Biosynthesis of nano-Se 0 both aerobically and anaerobically therefore provides a versatile and cost-effective remediation approach for Hg 0 -contaminated surface and subsurface soils, where the redox potential often changes dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination of mine tailings is one of the most serious environmental challenges facing the mining industry worldwide. Conventional technologies used for the treatment of such tailing soils are expensive both in terms of operation and capital costs as well as being not so effective. In the present study, an indigenous calcifying urease producing bacterial strain was isolated from copper mine tailing soil and used for bioimmobilization of copper, lead and cadmium in contaminated mine tailing soils. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence identified it asBacillus firmus. The efficiency of metal bioimmobilization was based on microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP). A five-stage sequential soil extraction procedure was carried out to obtain distribution patterns for the different metals. The mobility of the toxic metals was found to be significantly reduced in the exchangeable fraction with their concentrations markedly increasing in the carbonated fraction after bioremediation. Scanning electron microscopy showed the precipitation of calcite in association with the bacterial cells. Calcium carbonate minerals such as calcite, gwihabaite and aragonite were identified in the bioremediated tailings soils using X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is concluded that MICP holds considerable promise for the remediation of mine tailing soils by efficient immobilization of toxic metals such as copper, lead and cadmium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater in many parts of the world is contaminated with arsenic and nitrate. To date no technology is available that canin situremediate arsenic and nitrate pollution of groundwater using one single bacterial species. In this study, a novel anaerobic nitrate-dependent Fe(II)-oxidizing bacterium,Clostridiumsp. strain PXL2, was isolated from anoxic activated sludge. The strain PXL2 could efficiently oxidize Fe(II) associated with the reduction of nitrate. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) analysis showed that strain PXL2 formed nanosize and poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides which encrusted the cells, with the viability and function of the cells might being inhibited by the encrustation of Fe(III) oxides. It was found that strain PXL2 was an excellent candidate microbe for bioremediation of nitrate and arsenic pollution. It could effectively and simultaneously remove As(III) and nitrate from water due to its Fe(II) oxidation and denitrtification activity. 40.6–100% of NO3−was removed from an initial concentration of 12.3 mM. High concentrations of As(III) decreased nitrate removal. With initial concentrations of 10 μM, 65 μM and 125 μM As(III), 100% of As(III) was removed in a 20 d treatment. Arsenic was removed by adsorption to the biogenic Fe(III) oxides but not by adsorption to the cells. Strain PXL2 was also able to oxidize As(III) to less mobile and less toxic As(V) and this may significantly enhance the performance of bioremediation of arsenic pollution. Anaerobic nitrate-dependent Fe(II)-oxidizing species, such as strain PXL2, has great application potential forin situremediation of nitrate and metal(loid)s polluted groundwater with advantages of high efficiency and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidansis a commonly used bacterial species for leaching gold ores to recover gold. The pH ofA. ferrooxidansbioleachates drastically changes from around 2.0 during bioleaching to about pH 8.0 as the cells are discharged together with the mine tailings containing high levels of Hg. It is not known how such a large pH shock would affect the properties of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the transport of Hg in the mine tailings. In this study, the biochemical composition, molecular distribution, fluorescence properties and Hg(II) complexation by EPS ofA. ferrooxidanscultured at pH 2 and 8 were investigated. It was found that pH shock significantly altered the composition of EPS.A. ferrooxidansyielded more EPS under acid conditions than basic conditions. The acidic EPS contained more macromolecular proteins but less polysaccharide in comparison with the basic EPS. Phosphodiester functional groups in phospholipids and polysaccharides were found in the acidic EPS but not in the basic EPS. One tryptophan protein-like peak and one aromatic protein-like peak were identified in fluorescence spectra of the acidic EPS. Two aromatic protein-like peaks were identified from the fluorescence spectra of the basic EPS. The tryptophan protein-like substances in the acidic EPS interacted with Hg(II) and formed relatively stable complexes but with weak binding ability whereas the fluorescent aromatic protein-like substances in the acidic EPS did not bind Hg(II). However the aromatic protein-like substances in the basic EPS had a strong binding ability for Hg(II). The significant differences in composition and Hg complexation ability between EPS from acidic and basic environments indicate that a large pH shock during leaching of gold may exert a considerable impact on the behavior and fate of Hg in the mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity and pH are two water chemical factors that vary drastically—seasonally or daily—in a variety of aquatic environments. Drastic change of salinity and pH may have a significant impact on adsorption of microbial extracellular polymers (EPS) to sediment minerals and thus influence many other important elemental geochemical processes. However, how salinity and pH changes affect EPS adsorption to minerals is poorly known. In the present study, adsorption of EPS from a hypersaline microbial mat to goethite at different pH values (4, 7 and 10) and salinity (0.15‰, 35‰ and 70‰) was monitored online using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with EEM fluorescence spectroscopy as a complementary method. The adsorption kinetics were well described by an exponential function. The adsorption capacity of EPS to goethite significantly increased as the pH and salinity increased. The pH and salinity dependence of EPS adsorption to goethite is of great importance for understanding the environmental geochemistry of heavy metals in aquatic environments. In inland lakes and estuary zones, the seasonal or daily pulse of hydrological events will drastically alter water salinity and pH and consequently exert significant influences on the mobility, chemical species and ecotoxicity of heavy metals through the EPS pathway. It is necessary to systematically investigate the geochemical behavior of EPS in such dynamic aquatic environments and their potential effects on other geochemical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand storms have become a growing global environmental issue and there is an urgent need to explore cost-effective green technologies to stabilize the sands of desert regions. In this study, the performance of a ureolyticBacillussp. for stabilization of sands was evaluated. TheBacillussp. could efficiently consolidate sand particles by hydrolysis of urea and the subsequent production of calcite and aragonite minerals. The biostabilized sands had a high resistance to erosion by a 33 m s−1wind speed even after 12-d exposure to freeze-thaw cycles. The compressive strength of biostabilized sands was dependent on the applied cell density and concentrations of Ca2+and urea. High cell densities, urea and Ca2+concentrations reduced the compressive strength. The optimal cell density, Ca2+and urea concentrations were OD6000.4, 15 mM and 20 g L−1, respectively, when performance and cost were considered. This study shows that biostabilization of sand based on microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has potential for the prevention of sand storms and wind erosion of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioreduction of Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III) by chromate-reducing bacteria has offered an ecological and economical option for chromate detoxification. The present study reports isolation of chromate-resistant bacterial strain Cr8 from chromium slag, identified asPseudomonas stutzeri, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and their potential use in Cr(VI) reduction. The reduced product associated with bacterial cell was characterized by scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. At initial concentrations of 100 and 200 mg L−1Cr(VI),P. stutzeriCr8 reduced Cr(VI) completely within 24 h, whereas it reduced almost 1000 mg L−1Cr(VI) at the end of 120 h. Further, soil column leaching experiments were performed and found that bacterial cells reduced Cr(VI) leachate at faster rate that almost disappeared at the end of 168 h. The leachate precipitates also revealed efficient chromate bioreduction. The remediation process utilizingP. stutzericould be considered as a viable alternative to reduce Cr(VI) contamination, especially emanating from the overburden dumps of chromite ores and mine drainage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nitrate and arsenic are common pollutants in groundwater. However, we are still lacking technologies that can remove nitrate and arsenic simultaneously using a single species of microorganism. In the present study, the potential of synchronous removal of nitrate and arsenite from water by a single anaerobic nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidizing Citrobacter freundii strain PXL1 was assessed. The strain PXL1 could grow well in arsenite concentration of 2.85–13.65 μM and efficiently oxidize Fe(II), reduce nitrate and remove As(III) from water. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the strain PXL1 produced poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides. As(III) was removed mainly by adsorption and co-precipitation of the biogenic Fe(III) oxides. The anaerobic nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidizing bacteria including C. freundii PXL1 are promising microbes for in situ remediation of nitrate and arsenite contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) may flocculate or be decomposed when environmental factors change, which significantly influences nutrient cycling and transport of heavy metals. However, little information is available on the stability of EPS in natural environments. Fluorescence and flocculation properties of EPS from Chroococcus minutus under different irradiation and pH conditions were studied. Two aromatic protein-like fluorescence peaks and one tyrosine protein-like peak were identified from the excitation–emission-matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra of EPS. UVB (ultraviolet B) and solar irradiation increased the fluorescence intensity of all the three peaks while UVC (ultraviolet C) irradiation had little effect. EPS formed unstable flocs after exposure to UV (ultraviolet) irradiation and formed stable flocs under solar irradiation. EPS were prone to flocculation under highly acidic conditions and minimal fluorescence of peaks was observed. The fluorophores in EPS were relatively stable under neutral and alkaline conditions. These findings are helpful for understanding the behavior of EPS in aquatic environments and their role in biogeochemical cycles of the elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]