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The role of heterotrophic bacteria in feldspar dissolution — an experimental approach

¹ Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
² School of Biosciences, The University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1M 8JS, UK
³ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
⁴ Arcadis Geraghty & Miller International, Inc., 2 Craven Court, Newmarket CB8 7FA, UK

^* E-mail: E.Valsami-Jones{at}nhm.ac.uk

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study on the influence of heterotrophic bacteria on dissolution of a silicate mineral (K-feldspar) under a variety of growth conditions. Twenty seven strains of heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from a feldspar-rich soil (Shap, NW England). Liquid and solid minimal aerobic media (C/N-sufficient, K-limited, Fe-limited, N-limited and glucose/NH₄Cl only) at 26°C were used for isolation of the bacteria. The media selected bacterial isolates that were fast-growing aerobic heterotrophs able to use glucose as the sole source of carbon and energy. The extent of mineral dissolution (in the presence of the isolates) was assessed after 48 h of incubation by measuring the release of Al from the K-feldspar by ICP-AES. More detailed dissolution experiments were carried out with one of the strains, Serratia marcescens, an isolate that was very effective in enhancing feldspar dissolution. The main conclusions of this study are: (1) the degree of enhancement of K-feldspar dissolution varied with bacterial isolate and growth conditions; (2) enhancement of dissolution began during stationary phase growth; (3) the production of chelating compounds (exopolymers, siderophores, pigments) during the stationary phase might be a possible mechanism for bacterially enhanced K-feldspar dissolution; (4) the frequent sub-culturing of isolates can have a significant effect on their physiological characteristics and may possibly influence their capacity to enhance mineral dissolution.

KEYWORDS: K-feldspar, dissolution, heterotrophic bacteria, Serratia marcescens

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Valsami-Jones and D. A. C. Manning Environmental Mineralogy: introduction to a thematic set of papers arising out of sessions held at IMA 2002, Edinburgh, UK Mineralogical Magazine, December 1, 2003; 67(6): 1123 - 1125. [Full Text] [PDF]