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Review
. 2013 Oct 29:4:314.
doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00314.

Biomineralization of calcium carbonates and their engineered applications: a review

Navdeep K Dhami  1 , M Sudhakara Reddy, Abhijit Mukherjee
Affiliations
Review

Biomineralization of calcium carbonates and their engineered applications: a review

Navdeep K Dhami et al. Front Microbiol. .

Abstract

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICCP) is a naturally occurring biological process in which microbes produce inorganic materials as part of their basic metabolic activities. This technology has been widely explored and promising with potential in various technical applications. In the present review, the detailed mechanism of production of calcium carbonate biominerals by ureolytic bacteria has been discussed along with role of bacteria and the sectors where these biominerals are being used. The applications of bacterially produced carbonate biominerals for improving the durability of buildings, remediation of environment (water and soil), sequestration of atmospheric CO2 filler material in rubbers and plastics etc. are discussed. The study also sheds light on benefits of bacterial biominerals over traditional agents and also the issues that lie in the path of successful commercialization of the technology of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation from lab to field scale.

Keywords: bacteria; biofilm; biomineralization; calcite; extrapolymeric substances; urease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bio-mineralization of calcium carbonates in natural structures (A) Corals (B) Ant hills (C) Limestone caves (www.sciencedaily.com, www.indiamike.com, www.wikipedia.org).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bacteria serving as nucleation site for CaCO3 precipitation in the sand particles (Source: DeJong et al., 2010).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Polymorphs of CaCO3 (http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sediment/forschung.html).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Image of a cemented sand body from a large scale biogrout experiment. Van Paassen et al. (2010).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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