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The Role of Microbial Metabolites in Pb-Calcite Surface Interactions

Final Report Summary - MIME (The Role of Microbial Metabolites in Pb-Calcite Surface Interactions)

The behaviour of metals, many of which are toxic even in trace quantities, is an important topic as population growth puts pressure on the world’s drinking water resources. Relatively little is yet known about the interdependence between the biotic and abiotic aspects of metal sorption. Internal corrosion of Pb pipes in water distribution systems is currently an immediate, world-wide public health concern. It has been estimated that 25% of houses in the EU have at least one Pb pipe, putting 120 million Europeans at risk. The overall aim of this project was to define processes by which organic material mediates the adsorption of lead sulphide (PbS) nanoparticles (NPs) on mineral surfaces by using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), which could be tailored to allow characterisation of the effect of one variable at a time. This study used a combination of surface sensitive techniques, including X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Quartz Crystal Microgravimetry (QCM) to extend current understanding of the biogeochemical control on Pb behaviour to the molecular scale. This study lies at the intersection of geoscience surface physics and biointerface science and uses an interdisciplinary approach to answer questions at the crossover of environmental bio- and geochemistry, that are critical for society. The results provided insights for the water industry, so treatment can be improved by providing criteria for selecting bacteria that can synthesize particular metabolites to immobilize specific toxic metals.