Soil bacteria that precipitate calcium carbonate: mechanism and applications of the process

Abstract

Bacteria with ureasic activity are microorganisms found in soil that in presence of urea and calcium, they can produce calcium carbonate, a process known as microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). This article discusses this process and its mechanism, as well as bacterial urease, calcium carbonate crystals formed, and factors that affect the efficiency of MICP, as type of bacteria, bacterial cell concentrations, pH, temperature and calcium and urea concentrations. In addition, applications as removal of heavy metals in water, bioconsolidation, biocement and CO2 sequestration are also discussed.

Keywords

• Biomineralization
• Bacillus
• urease
• carbonates
• heavy metals
• bioconsolidation
• biocementation