Controlled biomineralization of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) by Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense

Moisescu, C., Bonneville, S., Tobler, D.J., Ardelean, I. and Benning, L.G. (2008) Controlled biomineralization of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) by Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense. Mineralogical Magazine, 72(1), pp. 333-336. (doi: 10.1180/minmag.2008.072.1.333)

Abstract

Results from a study of the chemical composition and micro-structural characteristics of bacterial magnetosomes extracted from the magnetotactic bacterial strain Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense are presented here. Using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with selected-area electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, biogenic magnetite particles isolated from mature cultures were analysed for variations in crystallinity and particle size, as well as chain character and length. The analysed crystals showed a narrow size range (∼14-67 nm) with an average diameter of 46±6.8 nm, cuboctahedral morphologies and typical Gamma type crystal size distributions. The magnetite particles exhibited a high chemical purity (exclusively Fe₃O₄) and the majority fall within the single-magnetic-domain range.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tobler, Dr Dominique
• Authors: Moisescu, C., Bonneville, S., Tobler, D.J., Ardelean, I., and Benning, L.G.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Mineralogical Magazine
• Journal Abbr.: Mineral. mag.
• Publisher: Mineralogical Society
• ISSN: 0026-461X
• ISSN (Online): 1471-8022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2008 Mineralogical Society
• First Published: First published in Mineralogical Magazine 72(1):333-336
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.