Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis
The present study is focused on the effect of biofilm medium chemistry on oxalate crystallization and contributes to the study of the patterns of microbial biomineralization and the development of nature-like technologies, using the metabolism of microscopic fungi. Calcium oxalates (weddellite and w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/5030 |
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| author | Aleksei Rusakov Maria Kuz’mina Olga Frank-Kamenetskaya |
| author_facet | Aleksei Rusakov Maria Kuz’mina Olga Frank-Kamenetskaya |
| author_sort | Aleksei Rusakov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study is focused on the effect of biofilm medium chemistry on oxalate crystallization and contributes to the study of the patterns of microbial biomineralization and the development of nature-like technologies, using the metabolism of microscopic fungi. Calcium oxalates (weddellite and whewellite in different ratios) were synthesized by chemical precipitation in a weakly acidic environment (pH = 4–6), as is typical for the stationary phase of micromycetes growth, with a ratio of Ca<sup>2+</sup>/C<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> = 4.0–5.5, at room temperature. Additives, which are common for biofilms on the surface of stone in an urban environment (citric, malic, succinic and fumaric acids; and K<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Fe<sup>3+</sup>, Sr<sup>2+</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2+</sup>, PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3+</sup> and CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2+</sup> ions), were added to the solutions. The resulting precipitates were studied via X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). It was revealed that organic acids, excreted by micromicetes, and some environmental ions, as well as their combinations, significantly affect the weddellite/whewellite ratio and the morphology of their phases (including the appearance of tetragonal prism faces of weddellite). The strongest unique effect leading to intensive crystallization of weddellite was only caused by the presence of citric acid additive in the medium. Minor changes in the composition of the additive components can lead to significant changes in the weddellite/whewellite ratio. The effect of the combination of additives on this ratio does not obey the law of additivity. The content of weddellite in the systems containing a representative set of both organic acids and environmental ions is ~20 wt%, which is in good agreement with natural systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:32:06Z |
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| id | doaj.art-4714f83164814ed6af63ff342a46679f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:32:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-4714f83164814ed6af63ff342a46679f2023-11-22T08:55:35ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-08-012616503010.3390/molecules26165030Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate MorphogenesisAleksei Rusakov0Maria Kuz’mina1Olga Frank-Kamenetskaya2Crystallography Department, Institute of Earth Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, RussiaCrystallography Department, Institute of Earth Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, RussiaCrystallography Department, Institute of Earth Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, RussiaThe present study is focused on the effect of biofilm medium chemistry on oxalate crystallization and contributes to the study of the patterns of microbial biomineralization and the development of nature-like technologies, using the metabolism of microscopic fungi. Calcium oxalates (weddellite and whewellite in different ratios) were synthesized by chemical precipitation in a weakly acidic environment (pH = 4–6), as is typical for the stationary phase of micromycetes growth, with a ratio of Ca<sup>2+</sup>/C<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> = 4.0–5.5, at room temperature. Additives, which are common for biofilms on the surface of stone in an urban environment (citric, malic, succinic and fumaric acids; and K<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Fe<sup>3+</sup>, Sr<sup>2+</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2+</sup>, PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3+</sup> and CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2+</sup> ions), were added to the solutions. The resulting precipitates were studied via X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). It was revealed that organic acids, excreted by micromicetes, and some environmental ions, as well as their combinations, significantly affect the weddellite/whewellite ratio and the morphology of their phases (including the appearance of tetragonal prism faces of weddellite). The strongest unique effect leading to intensive crystallization of weddellite was only caused by the presence of citric acid additive in the medium. Minor changes in the composition of the additive components can lead to significant changes in the weddellite/whewellite ratio. The effect of the combination of additives on this ratio does not obey the law of additivity. The content of weddellite in the systems containing a representative set of both organic acids and environmental ions is ~20 wt%, which is in good agreement with natural systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/5030microbe biomineralizationcalcium oxalate crystallizationweddellitewhewellite |
| spellingShingle | Aleksei Rusakov Maria Kuz’mina Olga Frank-Kamenetskaya Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis Molecules microbe biomineralization calcium oxalate crystallization weddellite whewellite |
| title | Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis |
| title_full | Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis |
| title_fullStr | Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis |
| title_short | Biofilm Medium Chemistry and Calcium Oxalate Morphogenesis |
| title_sort | biofilm medium chemistry and calcium oxalate morphogenesis |
| topic | microbe biomineralization calcium oxalate crystallization weddellite whewellite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/5030 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alekseirusakov biofilmmediumchemistryandcalciumoxalatemorphogenesis AT mariakuzmina biofilmmediumchemistryandcalciumoxalatemorphogenesis AT olgafrankkamenetskaya biofilmmediumchemistryandcalciumoxalatemorphogenesis |