Occurrence of manganese-oxidizing microorganisms and manganese deposition during biofilm formation on stainless steel in a brackish surface water

Abstract

Biofilm formation on 316L stainless steel was investigated in a pilotscale flow-through system fed with brackish surface water using an alternating flow/stagnation/flow regime. Microbial community analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing revealed the presence of complex microbial ecosystems consisting of, amongst others, Leptothrix-related manganese-oxidizing bacteria in the adjacent water, and sulfur-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing and slime-producing bacteria in the biofilm. Selective plating of the biofilm indicated the presence of high levels of manganese-oxidizing microorganisms, while microscopic and chemical analyses of the biofilm confirmed the presence of filamentous manganese-precipitating microorganisms, most probably Leptothrix species. Strong accumulation of iron and manganese occurred in the biofilm relative to the adjacent water. No evidence of selective colonization of the steel surface or biocorrosion was found over the experimental period. The overall results of this study highlight the potential formation of complex microbial biofilm communities in flow-through systems thriving on minor concentrations of manganese.

Potential Role of Dissolved Oxygen and Manganese Concentration on the Development of Biofilms Causing Reduction in Hydraulic Capacity of a Gravity-Fed Irrigation System

“…These organisms were visually identified by their unique shapes as seen if Figure 8, as well as high silica content when they were subjected to SEM/EDS. The occurrence of diatoms in biofilms associated with the oxidation and reduction of Mn has previously been reported by Kielemoes et al (2002). In their research, it was found that diatoms might adhere to biofilms in stagnant water.…”

Microbiomes in a manganese oxide producing ecosystem in the Ytterby mine, Sweden: impact on metal mobility

“… 2017 ), and a study on Mn-oxidizing bacteria during biofilm formation (AF379685, Kielemoes et al . 2002 ). The core microbial groups in YBS biofilm sample 512, collected from the same area as the other YBS biofilm samples three years earlier, are the same but the older sample differs by a higher relative abundance of Planctomycetales .…”

Characterising and understanding the impact of microbial biofilms and the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix in drinking water distribution systems

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