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Isolation and Potential Biocementation of Calcite Precipitation Inducing Bacteria from Colombian Buildings

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Abstract

Microbiological induced calcium carbonate or calcite precipitation (MICP) has become a highly researched issue due to its multiple applications in the construction industry, being a promising alternative with a great biotechnological importance. In this work, potential calcite precipitation inducing bacteria were isolated from mortar and concrete samples of different buildings at the National University of Colombia. Eighteen crystal-precipitating strains were recovered in Urea-CaCl2 solid medium. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified isolates as Arthrobacter, Psychrobacillus and Rhodococcus genera. It is reported, for the first time, the calcite precipitation by P. psycrodurans and R. qingshengii. Optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy showed crystals with irregular and spherical shapes, and beige and white colours. Furthermore, crystals formation appeared to be strain-specific. X-Ray diffraction analysis confirmed crystals composition as CaCO3. Biocementation tests showed that MICP treatments of mortar cubes using P. psycrodurans caused an increase in their compressive strength compared to control samples. The positive action of a native MICP strain in mortar blocks biomineralization is shown, which is of great interest and potential for the construction industry.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support to SMMS is thanked to División de Investigación Sede Bogotá (DIB), Grant No. 19380/19381. The Microbiology Laboratories of the Biology and Pharmacy Departments are thanked for allowing access to the microscopy and incubation equipment. Juan Mauricio Lozano Valcarcel from the Materials Engineering laboratories is also thanked for his collaboration in biocementation tests. Finally, we thank Professor Sa-YoulGhim, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea, for permitting access to strain A. crystallopoietes KNUC403.

Funding

This study was funded by the División de Investigación Sede Bogotá (DIB), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Grant Number DIB 19380/19381).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

    Sandra M. Montaño-Salazar

  2. Grupo de Investigación en Análisis, Diseño y Materiales – GIES, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

    Juan Lizarazo-Marriaga

  3. Grupo de Estudios para la Remediación y Mitigación de Impactos Negativos al Ambiente (G.E.R.M.I.N.A.), Laboratorio de Microbiología Ambiental y Aplicada, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

    Pedro F. B. Brandão

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  1. Sandra M. Montaño-Salazar
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Sandra M. Montaño-Salaza, Juan Lizarazo-Marriaga, and Pedro F. B. Brandão declares that they have no conflict of interest.

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Montaño-Salazar, S.M., Lizarazo-Marriaga, J. & Brandão, P.F.B. Isolation and Potential Biocementation of Calcite Precipitation Inducing Bacteria from Colombian Buildings. Curr Microbiol 75, 256–265 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-017-1373-0

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