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The inhibitory effect of antimicrobial zeolite on the biofilm of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

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Abstract

The inhibitory effect of antimicrobial zeolite coated concrete specimens (Z2) against Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans was studied by measuring biomass dry cell weight (DCW), biological sulphate generation, and oxygen uptake rates (OURs). Uncoated (UC), and blank zeolite coated without antimicrobial agent (ZC) concrete specimens were used as controls. The study was undertaken by exposing inoculated basal nutrient medium (BNM) to the various specimens. The coating material was prepared by mixing zeolite, epoxy and cure with ratios, by weight of 2:2:1. Concrete specimens were characterized before and after exposure to inoculated or sterile BNM by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Gypsum, which was absent in the other test concrete specimens, was detected in uncoated specimens exposed to the bacterium. In UC and ZC, the growth of the bacteria increased throughout the duration of the experiment. However, significant biomass inhibition was observed in experiments where Z2 was used. The overall biomass growth rate in suspension before the specimens were placed ranged from 3.18 to 3.5 mg DCW day−1. After the bacterium was exposed to UC and ZC, growth continued with a corresponding value of 4 ± 0.4 and 5.5 ± 0.6 mg DCW day−1, respectively. No biomass growth was observed upon exposure of the bacterium to Z2. Similarly, while biological sulphur oxidation rates in UC and ZC were 88 ± 13 and 238 ± 25 mg SO4 2− day−1, respectively, no sulphate production was observed in experiments where Z2 concrete specimens were used. Peak OURs for UC and ZC ranged from 2.6 to 5.2 mg l−1 h−1, and there was no oxygen uptake in those experiments where Z2 was used. The present study revealed that the antimicrobial zeolite inhibits the growth of both planktonic as well as biofilm populations of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Ontario Concrete Pipe Association and the Premier Research Excellence Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B8, Canada

    Tesfaalem Haile

  2. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B8, Canada

    George Nakhla

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  1. Tesfaalem Haile
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  2. George Nakhla
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Correspondence to Tesfaalem Haile.

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Haile, T., Nakhla, G. The inhibitory effect of antimicrobial zeolite on the biofilm of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans . Biodegradation 21, 123–134 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-009-9287-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-009-9287-6

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