• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.183-190
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• 2010

Biogenic Mn oxides are expected to have great potential in the control of water pollution due to their high catalytic activity, although information on biological Mn oxidation is not currently sufficient. In this study, the growth of a Mn oxidizing microorganism, Pseudomonas putida MnB1, was examined, with the Mn oxides formed by this strain characterized. The growth of P. putida MnB1 was not significantly influenced by Mn(II), but showed a slightly decreased growth rate in the presence of Pb(II) and EE2, indicating their insignificant adsorption onto the cell surface. Mn oxides were formed by P. putida MnB1, but the liquid growth medium and resulting biogenic solids were poorly crystalline, nano-sized particles. Biogenic Mn oxidation by P. putida MnB1 followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with stoichiometric amounts of Mn oxides formed, which corresponded with the initial Mn(II) concentration. However, the formation of Mn oxides was inhibited at high initial Mn(II) concentration, suggesting mass transfer obstruction of Mn(II) due to the accumulation of Mn oxides on the extracellular layer. Mn oxidation by P. putida MnB1 was very sensitive to pH and temperature, showing sharp decreases in the Mn oxidation rates outside of the optimum ranges, i.e. pH 7.43-8.22 and around 20-$26^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2010

Many microbes, including both bacteria and fungi, produce manganese (Mn) oxides by oxidizing soluble Mn(II) to form insoluble Mn(IV) oxide minerals, a kinetically much faster process than abiotic oxidation. These biogenic Mn oxides drive the Mn cycle, coupling it with diverse biogeochemical cycles and determining the bioavailability of environmental contaminants, mainly through strong adsorption and redox reactions. This mini review introduces recent findings based on quantum mechanical density functional theory that reveal the detailed mechanisms of toxic metal adsorption at Mn oxide surfaces and the remarkable role of Mn vacancies in the photochemistry of these minerals.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2001

Six ferromanganese crusts from the Lomilik and Litatfooki seamounts in the Marshall Islands were analyzed for texture, geochemistry and stratigraphy to delineate the paleoceanographic conditions. The crusts can be divided into three layers; 1) outermost massive layer (Layer 1), 2) middle porous Fe-oxides rich layer infllled with biointemal clasts (Layer 2), and 3) innermost massive layer cemented and/or replaced by carbonate fluoapatite (CFA) (Layer 3). The Layer 1 contains higher Mn, Co, Ni, and Mg than other two layers, and the Layer 2 was relatively more enriched in Fe, Al, Ti, Ba, Cu, and Zn. However, the Layer 3 shows higher Ca and P and lower Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni contents than overlying two layers. Based on the Co-chronometry, the crusts are postulated to have begun to grow from 56-31 Ma (early Eocene to Oligocene). The boundaries between layers 1 and 2, and layers 2 and 3 are dated to be 7-3 Ma and 26-14 Ma, respectively. High contents of Ca and P in Layer 3 clearly indicate that the layer had been phosphatized prior to the formation of Layer 2. Considering the well-preserved mjcrostructures in Layer 3, it is unlike that the crusts themselves were recrystallized in suboxic condition. Also, the lower Co concentrations in Layer 3 may imply that the Co supply was not constant during the formation of Layer 3. Layer 2, characterized by the porous texture, grew over Layer 3 during 26-9 Ma. Internal biogenic sediments including foraminifera within the original cavities and the enrichment of organophillic elements such as Ba, Cu, and Zn, suggest that Layer 2 have below high production regions. Also, high content of allumino silicate components may indicate increased terrigeneous input during the formation of Layer 2. The Layer 2. The Layer 1 has been subjected to little diagenetic influence since the Pliocene.