Carbonate and Oxalate Crystallization by Interaction of Calcite Marble with <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>–<i>Aspergillus niger</i> Association

Abstract

Rock surfaces in natural systems are inhabited by multispecies communities of microorganisms. The biochemical activity of microorganisms and the patterns of microbial crystallization in these communities are mostly unexplored. Patterns of calcium carbonate and calcium oxalate crystallization induced by bacteria Bacillus subtilis and by B. subtilis together with Aspergillus niger on marble surface in vitro in liquid medium and in humidity chamber—were studied. Phase identification was supported by XRD, SEM, EDXS; metabolite composition was determined by GC–MS. It was found that the activity of B. subtilis–A. niger associations significantly differ from the activity of B. subtilis monocultures in the same trophic conditions. The phase composition and the morphology of the forming crystals are determined by the composition of the metabolites excreted by the microorganisms—particularly by the ratio of the concentrations of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and oxalic acid in the medium. The acidification activity of micromycetes may suppress the formation of bacterial EPS and prevent the formation of calcite. The present results can be used in the development of biotechnologies using microbial communities.

Keywords

• microbial crystallization
• bacterial–fungal associations
• microbial metabolism
• biotechnology
• <i>Bacillus</i> spp.
• <i>Aspergillus niger</i>