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Formation of sphalerite (ZnS) deposits in natural biofilms of sulfate-reducing bacteria.
- Source :
-
Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2000 Dec 01; Vol. 290 (5497), pp. 1744-7. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Abundant, micrometer-scale, spherical aggregates of 2- to 5-nanometer-diameter sphalerite (ZnS) particles formed within natural biofilms dominated by relatively aerotolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria of the family Desulfobacteriaceae. The biofilm zinc concentration is about 10(6) times that of associated groundwater (0.09 to 1.1 parts per million zinc). Sphalerite also concentrates arsenic (0.01 weight %) and selenium (0.004 weight %). The almost monomineralic product results from buffering of sulfide concentrations at low values by sphalerite precipitation. These results show how microbes control metal concentrations in groundwater- and wetland-based remediation systems and suggest biological routes for formation of some low-temperature ZnS deposits.
- Subjects :
- Arsenic metabolism
Chemical Precipitation
Computer Simulation
Crystallization
Deltaproteobacteria growth & development
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified metabolism
Ferrous Compounds metabolism
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Metals metabolism
Models, Biological
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxygen physiology
Selenium metabolism
Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria growth & development
Temperature
Water Microbiology
Biofilms growth & development
Deltaproteobacteria metabolism
Geologic Sediments microbiology
Sulfides metabolism
Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria metabolism
Zinc Compounds metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0036-8075
- Volume :
- 290
- Issue :
- 5497
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Science (New York, N.Y.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11099408
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.290.5497.1744