Unraveling Eu(III) immobilization and cotransport risk with Bacillus subtilis from colloid aggregation, biosorption, and biomineralization.

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Title: Unraveling Eu(III) immobilization and cotransport risk with Bacillus subtilis from colloid aggregation, biosorption, and biomineralization.
Authors: Xu, Zhen1,2,3 (AUTHOR) xuz@lzu.edu.cn, Tang, Qingfeng2,3 (AUTHOR), Wang, Yanhui2,3 (AUTHOR), Chen, Yuan4 (AUTHOR), Niu, Zhiwei2,3 (AUTHOR), Pan, Duoqiang1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Wu, Wangsuo1,2,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Chemical Engineering Journal. Dec2025, Vol. 525, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Bacillus subtilis, Biomineralization, Active biological transport, Colloids, Environmental remediation, pH effect, Biosorption
Abstract: The environmental fate of europium(III) [Eu(III)] is governed by competing microbial processes—immobilization through biosorption and biomineralization versus mobilization via biocolloid-facilitated transport. This study systematically investigates the role of Bacillus subtilis in mediating Eu(III) immobilization and transport risk under varying physicochemical conditions. Results showed that biocolloid aggregation was enhanced by elevated bacterial concentrations (>60 mg·L−1) and the presence of multivalent cations (Ca2+, Eu3+) through charge neutralization and ion bridging. Microbial phosphatase activity induced pH-dependent biomineralization, yielding soluble Ca P complexes under acidic conditions (pH 6.5) and crystalline hydroxyapatite under alkaline conditions (pH 9.0). Extended mineralization (120 h) promoted the crystallization of adsorbed Eu(III) into EuPO 4 , which reduced colloidal stability and increased Eu(III) retention in porous media. Column transport experiments revealed time- and concentration-dependent cotransport behavior: short-term mineralization (24 h) enhanced Eu(III) mobility, whereas prolonged reaction times or higher Eu(III) concentrations facilitated aggregation and retention. In CaCl 2 systems, acidic conditions promoted the immobilization of EuPO 4 –Ca–P aggregates, while alkaline conditions increased mobility by weakening aggregation and enhancing electrostatic repulsion. These findings indicate that Bacillus subtilis plays a dual role: initially mobilizing Eu(III) through adsorption, but ultimately immobilizing it via biomineralization, albeit with persistent migration risks. This study provides critical insights into microbial influences on radionuclide transport, informing strategies for environmental remediation and nuclear safety management. [Display omitted] • Colloids critically modulate Eu(III) immobilization pathway by B. subtilis. • B. subtilis mineralizes Eu(III) via phosphatase-generated phosphate. • pH controls biogenic calcium phosphate phase composition. • Prolonged mineralization (120 h) converts adsorbed Eu(III) into crystalline EuPO 4. • Caution needed in Eu(III) mineralization with environmental colloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Chemical Engineering Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Unraveling Eu(III) immobilization and cotransport risk with Bacillus subtilis from colloid aggregation, biosorption, and biomineralization.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xu%2C+Zhen%22">Xu, Zhen</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> xuz@lzu.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tang%2C+Qingfeng%22">Tang, Qingfeng</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Yanhui%22">Wang, Yanhui</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Yuan%22">Chen, Yuan</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Niu%2C+Zhiwei%22">Niu, Zhiwei</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pan%2C+Duoqiang%22">Pan, Duoqiang</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Wangsuo%22">Wu, Wangsuo</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Chemical+Engineering+Journal%22">Chemical Engineering Journal</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 525, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bacillus+subtilis%22">Bacillus subtilis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biomineralization%22">Biomineralization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Active+biological+transport%22">Active biological transport</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colloids%22">Colloids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+remediation%22">Environmental remediation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22pH+effect%22">pH effect</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biosorption%22">Biosorption</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The environmental fate of europium(III) [Eu(III)] is governed by competing microbial processes—immobilization through biosorption and biomineralization versus mobilization via biocolloid-facilitated transport. This study systematically investigates the role of Bacillus subtilis in mediating Eu(III) immobilization and transport risk under varying physicochemical conditions. Results showed that biocolloid aggregation was enhanced by elevated bacterial concentrations (>60 mg·L−1) and the presence of multivalent cations (Ca2+, Eu3+) through charge neutralization and ion bridging. Microbial phosphatase activity induced pH-dependent biomineralization, yielding soluble Ca P complexes under acidic conditions (pH 6.5) and crystalline hydroxyapatite under alkaline conditions (pH 9.0). Extended mineralization (120 h) promoted the crystallization of adsorbed Eu(III) into EuPO 4 , which reduced colloidal stability and increased Eu(III) retention in porous media. Column transport experiments revealed time- and concentration-dependent cotransport behavior: short-term mineralization (24 h) enhanced Eu(III) mobility, whereas prolonged reaction times or higher Eu(III) concentrations facilitated aggregation and retention. In CaCl 2 systems, acidic conditions promoted the immobilization of EuPO 4 –Ca–P aggregates, while alkaline conditions increased mobility by weakening aggregation and enhancing electrostatic repulsion. These findings indicate that Bacillus subtilis plays a dual role: initially mobilizing Eu(III) through adsorption, but ultimately immobilizing it via biomineralization, albeit with persistent migration risks. This study provides critical insights into microbial influences on radionuclide transport, informing strategies for environmental remediation and nuclear safety management. [Display omitted] • Colloids critically modulate Eu(III) immobilization pathway by B. subtilis. • B. subtilis mineralizes Eu(III) via phosphatase-generated phosphate. • pH controls biogenic calcium phosphate phase composition. • Prolonged mineralization (120 h) converts adsorbed Eu(III) into crystalline EuPO 4. • Caution needed in Eu(III) mineralization with environmental colloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Chemical Engineering Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.170220
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Bacillus subtilis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biomineralization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Active biological transport
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Colloids
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental remediation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: pH effect
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biosorption
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Unraveling Eu(III) immobilization and cotransport risk with Bacillus subtilis from colloid aggregation, biosorption, and biomineralization.
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          Name:
            NameFull: Xu, Zhen
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            NameFull: Tang, Qingfeng
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            NameFull: Wang, Yanhui
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            NameFull: Chen, Yuan
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            NameFull: Niu, Zhiwei
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            NameFull: Pan, Duoqiang
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            NameFull: Wu, Wangsuo
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            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 525
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            – TitleFull: Chemical Engineering Journal
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