Author(s): B. Manna; N. Singhal
Linked Author(s): Naresh Singhal
Keywords: Metagenomics; Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation; Natural systems
Abstract: Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is a widely recognized natural process involving the interaction of metabolic byproducts, such as bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and calcium ions (Ca2+), leading to the formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals. MICP has gained significant attention due to its applications in various biotechnological fields, including soil and water remediation, soil bioconsolidation, CO2 bio-sequestration, and self-healing bio-concrete (Castro-Alonso MJ, et al. 2019). The precipitation of CaCO3 is a common phenomenon observed in marine sediments, freshwater, soils, caves, and hypersaline habitats. While laboratory-scale investigations have focused on promising pure species like Sporosarcina pasteurii for MICP applications, the microbiological and molecular concepts of MICP and the mechanisms by which different microbial groups contribute to MICP in natural environments remain largely unexplored. MICP formation can be broadly classified into two categories: ureolytic and non-ureolytic pathways (Figure 1). However, so far, mostly ureolytic activities have been extensively studied at the laboratory scale. The potential of non-ureolytic pathways for MICP demands further investigation, as stimulating mixed microbial populations holds promise for in-situ applications and offers advantages over single-species-driven approaches.
Year: 2023