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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH,
VOL. 111,
G02017,
8 PP., 2006
doi:10.1029/2005JG000054
Interaction between the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and vermiculite: Effects on chemical, mineralogical, and mechanical properties of vermiculite
Clay Mineralogy Group, Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
Institute of Plant Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
On an expanded and crushed vermiculite, changes in chemical, mineralogical, and rheological properties of the mineral affected by microbial activity were investigated. Determination of the water content, grain size, X-ray diffraction pattern, intercrystalline swelling with glycerol, layer charge, CEC, exchangeable cations, BET surface, and rheology provided the necessary information about the differences between pure vermiculite, vermiculite suspensions containing the nutrient medium, and vermiculite suspensions containing the nutrient medium and the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CHA0. The aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens causes a decrease in grain size, aggregation of vermiculite grains as evidenced by smaller BET surfaces, and enhanced viscosity of the bacteria containing slurries. Layer charge, intercrystalline swelling, and CEC were not affected by the microbial activity, nor did the bacteria count for the exchange of potassium and magnesium against sodium in the vermiculite. The microbes inhibited this exchange process during the first stage of the experiments; however, increasing run time favors the exchange as well.
Received 23 May 2005; accepted 14 February 2006; published 15 June 2006.
Citation: (2006), Interaction between the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and vermiculite: Effects on chemical, mineralogical, and mechanical properties of vermiculite, J. Geophys. Res., 111, G02017, doi:10.1029/2005JG000054.
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