Structure Evolution of CaCO3 Precipitates Formed during the Bacillus cereus Induced Biomineralization

Biomineralization is a universal process that has implications in variety of areas, from civil engineering to medicine. While crystallization amorphous CaCO3 formed vitro known precede the vaterite-calcite/aragonite pathway, this could be significantly altered when induced by bacteria, particularly within extracellular matrix (ECM) microbial cells. We used combination SEM, SANS, SAXS, FTIR and XRD methods investigate structure during biomineralization planktonic Bacillus cereus. Formation precipitates presence CaCl2 urea was observed both bacterial growth medium devoid bacteria ECM (cell-free system). The pathway for polymorphic transformations phase vaterite further calcite confirmed bacterium-induced mineralization did not depend on concentration Ca2+ urea. sediments differed cell-free systems varied depending time composition. rate precipitation accelerated DNA, which had little effect solid system, while strongly affecting composition culture.