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

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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