• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.937-941
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• 2003

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is an electrochemical process where the participation of microorganisms initiates, facilitates, or accelerates the corrosion reaction. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) reduce sulfate to sulfide and are known to be the most destructive microorganisms in anaerobic MIC. Accordingly, the current study attempted to elucidate the mechanisms involved and the relative importance of the corrosive products in SRB-induced corrosion. The measured rate of anaerobic corrosion of iron coupons by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was $89.9{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}\textrm{m}^{-2}{\;}d^{-1}$. Direct contact between the cells and the iron coupon did not seem to be necessary for corrosion to occur, since the corrosion rate was similar ($100.8{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}\textrm{m}^{-2}{\;}d^{-1}$) when the coupon was enclosed in a dialysis bag. The participation of sulfide in the corrosion process was only marginal, as the specific corrosion rate was 2.5 times higher in a sulfate-free pyruvate medium than in an $H_2S-producing$ lactate medium. Acetate (18.8-22.1 mM), the end-product of pyruvate and lactate metabolism, was identified in the culture medium and thus presumed to play a major role in the corrosion process involving Desulfovibrio desulfuricans.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 2023

Iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) were synthesized employing Lagenaria siceraria (LS) leaf aqueous extract as a reducing and capping medium to remove methylene blue (MB) dye and have antibacterial properties against G-negative (Escherichia coli) and G-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). The formation of LS-Fe-NPs (Lagenaria-siceraria-iron-nanoparticles) was confirmed by a change in color from pale yellow to dark brown. Characterization techniques, such as particle size analysis (PSA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were employed to prove nano spherical particles of size range between 80-100 nm. Phytochemicals and the presence of iron in LS-Fe-NPs nanoparticles were proved by UV-visible spectrophotometry. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis results confirmed the existence of bioactive molecules in the plants. The magnetic property was analyzed using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), which displayed that the synthesized nanoparticles were superparamagnetic and exhibiting a saturation magnetization of 12.5 emu/g. Synthesized magnetic nanoparticles were used in methylene blue (MB) dye removal through adsorption. About 83% of 100 mg/L MB dye was removed within 120 min at pH 6 with a maximum adsorption capacity of 246.8 mg/g. Antibacterial efficacy of LS-Fe-NPs was screened against G-negative (Escherichia coli) and G-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), respectively, and found that LS-Fe-NPs were effective against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2007

Microorganisms participate in a variety of geochemical processes such as weathering and formation of minerals, leaching of precious metals from minerals, and cycling of organic matter The objective of this study was to investigate biogeochemical processes of iron leaching from magnetite ore by iron-reducing bacteria isolated from intertidal flat sediments, southwestern part of Korea. Microbial iron leaching experiments were performed using magnetite ore, Shinyemi magnetite ore, in well-defined media with and without bacteria at room temperature for a month. Water soluble Fe and Mn during the leaching experiments were determined by ICP analysis of bioleached samples, and the resulting precipitated solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extent of iron leaching from magnetite in the aerobic conditions (Fe = 15 mg/L and Mn = 3.41 mg/L) was lower than that in the anaerobic environments (Fe = 32.8 mg/L and Mn = 5.23 mg/L). The medium pH typically decreased from 8.3 to 7.2 during a month incubation. The Eh of the initial medium decreased from +144.9 mV to -331.7 mV in aerobic environments and from -2.3 mV to -494.6 mV in anaerobic environments upon incubation with the metal reducing microorganisms. The decrease in pH is due to glucose fermentation producing organic acids and $CO_2$. The ability of bacteria to leach soluble iron from crystalline magnetite could have significant implications for biogeochemical processes in sediments where Fe(III) in magnetite represents the largest pool of electron acceptor as well as to use as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2013

This study is on the corrosion of iron objects caused by sulfides in undersea environment. The corrosion state of objects in seawater and their damage state after underwater and left in highly humid air were studied. The samples of this study were four iron objects which had been taken out from undersea mud layer located in Taean Mado, Chungcheongnamdo. SEM-EDS and XRD analyse on the objects to check whether they have sulfides or not. The result of analysis suggested that the major component of corrosion product generated in undersea deposit soil is sulfur(S) and iron sulfide(FeS) is formed as sulfide. However, there was no clear corrosion on the surface of objects which was exposed to sea water because of the impact of concretion which covered the surface. In order to check the damage status of iron objects after they had been taken out of sea water, exposure tests in high humidity environment and dehumidified environment were done on the corrosion products. The result of the test suggested that the oxidization of iron sulfide corrosion product makes iron sulfate ($FeSO_4$) and sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) and they can cause secondary corrosion of iron objects. Therefore, it is believed that the iron sulfide corrosion product of iron objects taken out from underwater environment should be removed by all means and the keeping environment of the iron objects should also maintain dehumidified state.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1 s.51
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• pp.47-60
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• 2007

While sedimentological researches on Western coastal tidal flats of Korea have been much pelformed previously, mineralogical and biogeochemical studies are beginning to be studied. The objectives of this study were to investigate mineralogical characteritics of the inter-tidal flat sediments and to explore phase transformation of iron(oxyhydr)oxides and biomineralization by metal-reducing bacteria enriched from the inter-tidal flat sediments from Muan, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Inter-tidal flat sediment samples were collected in Chungkye-myun and Haeje-myun, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do. Particle size analyses were performed using the pipette method and sedimentation method. The separates including sand, silt and clay fractions were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffiaction (XRD). After enriching the metal-.educing bacteria from the into,-tidal flat sediments, the bacteria were used to study phase transformation of the synthesized iron (oxyhydr)oxides and iron biomineralization using lactate or glucose as the electron donors and Fe(III)-containing iron oxides as the electron accepters. Mineralogical studies showed that the sediments of tidal flats in Chung]rye-myun and Haeje-myun consist of quartz, plagioclase, microcline, biotite, kaolinite and illite. Biogeochemical researches showed that the metal-reducing bacteria enriched from the inter-tidal flat sediments reduced reddish brown akaganeite and mineralized nanometer-sized black magnetite. The bacteria also reduced the reddish brown ferrihydrite into black amorphous phases and reduced the yellowish goethite into greenish with formation of nm-sized phases. These results indicate that microbial Fe(III) reduction may play one of important roles in iron and carbon biogeochemistry as well as iron biomineralization in subsurface environments.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2000

미생물을 이용한 광물 합성은 현재 초기 연구단계에 있으나 신소재 개발측면에서 다야한 활용성을 보인다. 본 연구의 목적은 철환원 박테리아를 이용한 자철석 합성에 있어 미치는 환경조건들을 알아보는데 있다. 본 연구를 위해 지하 3-km 코아 시료에서 분리한 호열성 철 환원 박테리아인 TOR-39을 이용하였다. TOR-39은 $65^{\circ}C$에서 12시간이내에 비정질 철수화물을 환원시켜 자철석을 형성한다. 25일 동안 배양하여 형성된 자철석은 정육각형 모양으로 입자 크기는 50-100 나노미터이다. TOR-39을 이용한 자철석 합성시 적절한 조건은 pH는 7.9-8.5, Eh는 -200 mV 이하, 배양기간은 3-25일 그리고 온도는 $45-75^{\circ}C$이다. 미생물에 의한 자철석 합성은 나노미터 크기의 광물을 직접 합성하므로, 산업적으로 많은 이용 가치를 가질 것으로 본다.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.445-455
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• 2009

Microbiological sulfate reduction is the transformation of sulfate to sulfide catalyzed by the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria using sulfate as an electron acceptor. Low solubility of metal sulfides leads to precipitation of the sulfides in solution. The effects of microbiological sulfate reduction on in-situ precipitation of arsenic and copper were investigated for the heavy metal-contaminated soil around the Songcheon Au-Ag mine site. Total concentrations of As, Cu, and Pb were 1,311 mg/kg, 146 mg/kg, and 294 mg/kg, respectively, after aqua regia digestion. In batch-type experiments, indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria rapidly decreased sulfate concentration and redox potential and led to substantial removal of dissolved As and Cu from solution. Optimal concentrations of carbon source and sulfate for effective microbial sulfate reduction were 0.2~0.5% (w/v) and 100~200 mg/L, respectively. More than 98% of injected As and Cu were removed in the effluents from both microbial and chemical columns designed for metal sulfides to be precipitated. However, after the injection of oxygen-rich solution, the microbial column showed the enhanced long-term stability of in-situ precipitated metals when compared with the chemical column which showed immediate increase in dissolved As and Cu due to oxidative dissolution of the sulfides. Black precipitates formed in the microbial column during the experiments and were identified as iron sulfide and copper sulfide. Arsenic was observed to be adsorbed on surface of iron sulfide precipitate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

Perchlorate ($ClO_4^-$) is a contaminant found in surface water and soil/ground water. Autotrophic perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB) use hydrogen gas ($H_2$) as an electron donor to remove perchlorate. Since iron corrosion can produce $H_2$, feasibility of autotrophic perchlorate-removal using zero-valent iron (ZVI) was examined in this study using activated sludge that is easily available from a wastewater treatment plant. Batch test showed that activated sludge microorganisms could successfully degrade perchlorate in the presence of ZVI. The perchlorate biodegradation was confirmed by molar yield of $Cl^-$ as perchlorate was degraded. Scanning electron microscope revealed that rod-shaped microorganisms on the surface of iron particles used for the autotrophic perchlorate-removal, suggesting that iron particles could serve as supporting media for the formation of biofilm as well. DGGE analyses revealed that microbial profile of the inoculum (activated sludge) was different from that of biofilm sample obtained from the ZVI-added enrichment culture used for $ClO_4^-$-degradation. A major band of the biofilm sample was most closely related to the class Clostridia.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.596-604
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• 2019

This study conducted a sediment culture experiment to investigate the effects of sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and environmental factors on sediment and water quality. We installed a leaching tank in the laboratory, cultured it for 20 days, and analyzed the relationship between P and Fe in the sediment. As a result, the dissolved oxygen of the water layer decreased with time, while the oxidation-reduction potential of the sediment progressed in the negative direction to form an anaerobic reducing environment. The SOD was measured to be 0.05 mg/g at the initial stage of cultivation and increased to 0.09 mg/g on the 20th day, indicating the tendency of increasing consumption of oxygen by the sediment. The change is likely to have caused by oxygen consumption from biological-SOD, which is the decomposition of organic matter accumulated on the sediment surface due to the increase of chl-a, and chemical-SOD consumed when the metal-reducing product produced by the reduction reaction is reoxidized. The correlation between SOD and causality for sediment-extracted sediments was positive for Ex-P and Org-P and negative for Fe-P. The analysis of the microbial community in the sediment on the 20th day showed that anaerobic iron-reducing bacteria (FeRB) were the dominant species. Therefore, when the phosphate bonded to the iron oxide is separated by the reduction reaction, the phosphate is eluted into the water to increase the primary productivity. The reduced substance is reoxidized and contributes to the oxygen consumption of the sediment. The results of this study would be useful as the reference information to improve oxygen resin.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2020

In a redox transition zone, geochemical reactions are facilitated by active bacteria that mediate reactions involving electrons, and arsenic (As) and iron (Fe) cycles are the major electron transfer reactions occurring at such a site. In this study, the effect of repetitive redox changes on soil bacterial community in As-contaminated soil was investigated. The results revealed that bacterial community changed actively in response to redox changes, and bacterial diversity gradually decreased as the cycle repeated. Proportion of strict aerobes and anaerobes decreased, while microaerophilic species such as Azospirillum oryzae group became the predominant species, accounting for 72.7% of the total counts after four weeks of incubation. Bacterial species capable of reducing Fe or As (e.g., Clostridium, Desulfitobacterium) belonging to diverse phylogenetic groups were detected. Indices representing richness (i.e., Chao 1) and phylogenetic diversity decreased from 1,868 and 1,926 to 848 and 1,121, respectively. Principle component analysis suggests that repetitive redox fluctuation, rather than oxic or anoxic status itself, is an important factor in determining the change of soil bacterial community, which in turn affects the cycling of As and Fe in redox transition zones.