Understanding the mechanisms of biological struvite biomineralisation

The mechanisms of struvite production through biomineralisation were investigated for five microorganisms (Bacillus pumilus, Brevibacterium antiquum, Myxococcus xanthus, Halobacterium salinarum and Idiomarina loihiensis). After 72–96 h incubation, the microbial strains tested increased solution pH from 7.5 to 7.7 8.4–8.7, removed ortho-phosphate (63–71%) magnesium (94–99%) by biomineralisation. minerals formed identified as (i.e. bio-struvite). Within initial 24 growth rates 0.16–0.28 1/h measured, bio-struvite was observed when supersaturation index with respect achieved 0.6–0.8 units. crystals produced B. H. M. xanthus thin trapezoidal-platy shaped presented a gap size about 200 μm intervals between cumulative volume undersize distribution at 50% 90%. While antiquum I. loihiensis coffin-lid/long-bar shape narrow around 100 percentage 90%, indicating homogeneous crystal distribution. Intracellular phase within cells, corresponding observation intracellular vesicle-like structures occupied electron-dense granules/materials. This study suggests that biologically controlled mineralisation. mechanism is preferred recovering nutrients streams such wastewater because it allows link manipulation conditions production, even in highly complex like wastewater.