Attachment on mortar surfaces by cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa PCC 73106 and
sequestration of CO2 by microbially induced calcium carbonate
Abstract
Cyanobacterial carbonate precipitation induced by cells and
extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) enhances mortar durability. The
percentage of cell/EPS attachment regulates the effectiveness of the
mortar restoration. This study investigates the cell coverage on mortar
and microbially induced carbonate precipitation. Statistical analysis of
results from scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy shows that
the cell coverage was higher in the presence of UV-killed cells than
living cells. Cells preferably attached to cement paste than sand
grains, with a difference of one order of magnitude. The
energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses and Raman mapping suggest
cyanobacteria used atmospheric CO2 to precipitate carbonates.