REACTIVITY OF THE BACTERIA-WATER INTERFACE: IMPLICATIONS FOR METAL TRANSPORT AND MINERAL FORMATION

摘要

Identifying and quantifying the controls on metal mobilities in geologic systems is critical in order to understand processes such as global element cycling, metal transport in near-surface water-rock systems, sedimentary diagenesis, and mineral formation. Bacteria are ubiquitous in near-surface water-rock systems, and numerous laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that bacteria can facilitate the formation and dissolution of minerals, and enhance or inhibit contaminant transport. However, despite the growing evidence that bacteria play a key role in many geologic processes in low temperature systems, our understanding of the rates and mechanisms of bacterial effects remains rudimentary. Here we present data demonstrating the effectiveness of coupling laboratory experiments in conjunction with geochemical modeling and x-ray absorption techniques to isolate the specific rates and mechanisms of bacterially mediated geochemical reactions.