Characterization of Struvite Produced by an Algal Associated Agarolytic Bacterium Exiguobacterium aestuarii St. SR 101

Abstract

Biomineralization phenomenon of bacteria proved to have various biotechnological and environmental applications. Production of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) crystals by the agarolytic bacterium Exiguobacterium aestuarii St. SR 101 isolated from red seaweed, Gracilaria corticata was reported for the first time in the present study. Struvite crystallization occurred in the agar culture medium in the presence of the bacterium. Crystal nucleation and growth occurred apparently as a consequence of the localized ion supersaturation, produced by the microbial metabolites and also by the microbial supply of heterogeneous nuclei resulted in crystallization. The crystals were visible between 10 to 15 days after inoculation. The crystal structure of the struvite characterized by optical microscopy, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, powder X-ray diffractometry, and single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The orthorhombic crystal is with the space group Pmn2 1 and unit-cell parameters a = 6.9447 Å, b =6.1329 Å, c = 11.2026Å. Exiguobacterium aestuarii St. SR 101 showed to have the capacity of producing struvite based fertilizer by bioremediation of industrial phosphate wastes.

Molecular identification of pathogenic bacteria causing foodborne disease in Caulerpa racemosa

“…E aestuarii can produce struvite, a bioremediation-based fertilizer on industrial phosphate waste. 10 The discovery of the genus Exiguobacterium in the aquatic environment has the potential as a bioagent to control the explosion of the cyanobacterial population, namely Microcystis aeruginosa. 11 The genus Exiguobacterium is also found in marine organisms such as shrimp and fish.…”

Crossroads of vibrational (infrared and Raman) spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction in identification and characterization of some minerals – advantages and limitations. A review

“…15a,b). [113][114][115][116][117][118][119] Raman spectra identification [117][118][119][120][121] is even more challenging if the spectrum is collected in a shorter exposure time since only three bands from the phosphate vibrations are evident, without the appearance of any Raman bands from the ammonium ions. Thus, the strong fluorescence and weak bands might compromise the identification of struvite among the other possible phosphate-built urinary calculi candidates (monetite, brushite, newberyite, dittmarite).…”