Biomineralization: Linking the fossil record to the production of high value functional materials

J. R. Lloyd, C. I. Pearce, V. S. Coker, R. A D Pattrick, G. Van Der Laan, R. Cutting, D. J. Vaughan, M. Paterson-Beedle, I. P. Mikheenko, P. Yong, L. E. Macaskie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The microbial cell offers a highly efficient template for the formation of nanoparticles with interesting properties including high catalytic, magnetic and light-emitting activities. Thus biomineralization products are not only important in global biogeochemical cycles, but they also have considerable commercial potential, offering new methods for material synthesis that eliminate toxic organic solvents and minimize expensive high-temperature and pressure processing steps. In this review we describe a range of bacterial processes that can be harnessed to make precious metal catalysts from waste streams, ferrite spinels for biomedicine and catalysis, metal phosphates for environmental remediation and biomedical applications, and biogenic selenides for a range of optical devices. Recent molecular-scale studies have shown that the structure and properties of bionanominerals can be fine-tuned by subtle manipulations to the starting materials and to the genetic makeup of the cell. This review is dedicated to the late Terry Beveridge who contributed much to the field of biomineralization, and provided early models to rationalize the mechanisms of biomineral synthesis, including those of geological and commercial potential. © 2008 The Authors.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)285-297
Number of pages12
JournalGeobiology
Volume6
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008

Keywords

  • SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
  • HYDROGEN URANYL PHOSPHATE
  • MICROBIALLY
  • ENHANCED CHEMISORPTION
  • CHLORINATED AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS
  • DISSIMILATORY
  • IRON REDUCTION
  • HYBRID BIOINORGANIC CATALYST
  • HEAVY-METAL ACCUMULATION
  • CITROBACTER SP
  • DESULFOVIBRIO-DESULFURICANS
  • RHODOBACTER-SPHAEROIDES

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Dalton Nuclear Institute

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