Effects of low-molecular-weight organic ligands and phosphate on adsorption of Pseudomonas putida by clay minerals and iron oxide

Adsorption of Pseudomonas putida on kaolinite, montmorillonite and goethite was studied in the presence of organic ligands and phosphate. Citrate, tartrate, oxalate and phosphate showed inhibitive effect on P. putida adsorption by three minerals in a broad range of anion concentrations. The highest efficiencies of the four ligands in blocking the adsorption of P. putida on goethite, kaolinite and montmorillonite were 58–90%, 35–76% and 20–48%, respectively. The ability of organic ligands in prohibiting the binding of P. putida cells to the minerals followed the sequence of citrate > tartrate > oxalate > acetate. The significant suppressive effects on P. putida adsorption were ascribed to the increased negative charges by adsorbed ligands and the competition of ligands with bacterial surface groups for binding sites. The inhibitive effects on P. putida adsorption by organic ligands were also dependent on the steric hindrance of the molecules. Acetate presented promotive effect on P. putida adsorption by kaolinite and goethite at low anion concentrations. The results obtained in this study suggested that the adsorption of bacteria in soils especially in the rhizosphere can significantly be impacted by various organic and inorganic anions.