Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration

Abstract This study investigates the impact of key parameters—bacterial cell density, calcium ion concentration, and ambient temperature—on the kinetics and outcomes of Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) using Sporosarcina pasteurii. By extending reaction conditions to cell d...

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Main Authors: N. Erdmann, K. Aldabbousi, D. Strieth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06881-x
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author N. Erdmann
K. Aldabbousi
D. Strieth
author_facet N. Erdmann
K. Aldabbousi
D. Strieth
author_sort N. Erdmann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigates the impact of key parameters—bacterial cell density, calcium ion concentration, and ambient temperature—on the kinetics and outcomes of Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) using Sporosarcina pasteurii. By extending reaction conditions to cell density up to OD600 = 30, urea and calcium concentrations up to 4.5 M, and a temperature range of 4 to 75 °C, this research provides insights into the boundaries of MICP's efficiency. Zero order reaction kinetics were determined by monitoring free NH4 + and Ca2+ during MICP through ion exchange chromatography and the resulting precipitate was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and microscopical imaging. Reaction kinetics demonstrated a linear correlation between cell density and ureolysis (k urea) and calcium carbonate precipitation (k calcium,) with high densities driving rapid reaction rates. Optimal precipitation rates occurred at 45 °C, beyond which thermal deactivation of urease impeded MICP. High calcium concentrations increased calcium carbonate yield but required elevated cell densities to mitigate inhibitory effects of Ca2+. Morphological and polymorphic shifts in calcium carbonate crystals were observed, transitioning from calcite at standard conditions to vaterite and aragonite under extreme scenarios (Cell density of OD600 = 30 and 65 °C respectively). These findings underscore the multi-factorial dependencies of MICP and highlight upper boundaries of these parameters for process optimization.
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spelling doaj-art-a28ad590b3bc42b4bf08b80c038f48f12025-08-20T04:01:36ZengSpringerDiscover Applied Sciences3004-92612025-07-017711710.1007/s42452-025-06881-xInvestigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentrationN. Erdmann0K. Aldabbousi1D. Strieth2Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, University of Kaiserslautern-LandauChair of Bioprocess Engineering, University of Kaiserslautern-LandauChair of Bioprocess Engineering, University of Kaiserslautern-LandauAbstract This study investigates the impact of key parameters—bacterial cell density, calcium ion concentration, and ambient temperature—on the kinetics and outcomes of Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) using Sporosarcina pasteurii. By extending reaction conditions to cell density up to OD600 = 30, urea and calcium concentrations up to 4.5 M, and a temperature range of 4 to 75 °C, this research provides insights into the boundaries of MICP's efficiency. Zero order reaction kinetics were determined by monitoring free NH4 + and Ca2+ during MICP through ion exchange chromatography and the resulting precipitate was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and microscopical imaging. Reaction kinetics demonstrated a linear correlation between cell density and ureolysis (k urea) and calcium carbonate precipitation (k calcium,) with high densities driving rapid reaction rates. Optimal precipitation rates occurred at 45 °C, beyond which thermal deactivation of urease impeded MICP. High calcium concentrations increased calcium carbonate yield but required elevated cell densities to mitigate inhibitory effects of Ca2+. Morphological and polymorphic shifts in calcium carbonate crystals were observed, transitioning from calcite at standard conditions to vaterite and aragonite under extreme scenarios (Cell density of OD600 = 30 and 65 °C respectively). These findings underscore the multi-factorial dependencies of MICP and highlight upper boundaries of these parameters for process optimization.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06881-xMicrobially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP)UreolysisSporosarcina pasteuriiCalcium concentrationCell densityTemperatures
spellingShingle N. Erdmann
K. Aldabbousi
D. Strieth
Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration
Discover Applied Sciences
Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP)
Ureolysis
Sporosarcina pasteurii
Calcium concentration
Cell density
Temperatures
title Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration
title_full Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration
title_fullStr Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration
title_short Investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation: effects of cell density, temperature, and calcium concentration
title_sort investigating the influential factors on microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation effects of cell density temperature and calcium concentration
topic Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP)
Ureolysis
Sporosarcina pasteurii
Calcium concentration
Cell density
Temperatures
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06881-x
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AT kaldabbousi investigatingtheinfluentialfactorsonmicrobiallyinducedcalciumcarbonateprecipitationeffectsofcelldensitytemperatureandcalciumconcentration
AT dstrieth investigatingtheinfluentialfactorsonmicrobiallyinducedcalciumcarbonateprecipitationeffectsofcelldensitytemperatureandcalciumconcentration