title: [Clostridium sp. MH18 strain induces the formation of carbonate minerals].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the formation of carbonate minerals by bacteria to understand the mechanism of microbial mineralization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultures of carbonate precipitation using Lagoa Vermelha medium with 6:1 molar ratio of Mg/Ca within 35 days were made under the mediation of Clostridium sp. (MH18 strain) isolated from soil. At the same time, aseptic experiments without the inoculation were done as the control. Mineral species were determined by X-ray diffraction, and the morphologies of precipitated carbonates were observed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the LV medium, MH18 strain mediated the formation of carbonate mineral, in which high-magnesium calcite was dominant. In the initial stage, the minerals had shapes with dumbbell-like morphology, and finally transformed to spheres. Only a small amount of precipitation appeared in the control, but X-ray diffraction patterns showed that these precipitations were amorphous substance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MH18 strain could induce crystallization of carbonate.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. wwaxmt@163.com
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Fuchun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D002254:Carbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D008903:Minerals