Experimental approach of CO2 biomineralization in deep saline aquifers

We describe an experimental system including monitoring of temperature, pressure, pH, oxidation reduction potential and optical density at 600 nm, designed for studying the role of microorganisms on the geological sequestration of CO2 and its transformation into solid carbonate phases. Measurements were performed in an artificial ground water (AGW) supplemented with urea (2 g.l− 1) and equilibrated at controlled temperatures with a gaseous phase before bacterial inoculation. We used the ureolytic strain Bacillus pasteurii as a model carbonate precipitating bacteria and showed that it can successfully promote strong pH increases by ureolysis in the AGW equilibrated with CO2 pressures of up to 1 bar. Increasing salinities (5.8, 13.5 and 35.0 g.l− 1) have a positive effect on the rate of pH increase, whereas the effect of increasing temperatures (30, 35 and 38 °C) is less important. Calcium is also shown to have a specific positive influence on the rate of ureolysis. The number of viable cells present in solution decreases greatly during the carbonate precipitation event but the population partially recovers once precipitation is over.