Microbially Mediated Calcium Carbonate Precipitation: Implications for Interpreting Calcite Precipitation and for Solid-Phase Capture of Inorganic Contaminants

Microbial degradation of urea was investigated as a potential geochemical catalyst for Ca carbonate precipitation and associated solid phase capture of common groundwater contaminants (Sr, UO2, Cu) in laboratory batch experiments. Bacterial degradation of urea increased pH and promoted Ca carbonate precipitation in both bacterial control and contaminant treatments. Associated solid phase capture of Sr was highly effective, capturing 95% of the …