The characteristics of nano-micron calcite particles/common bacteria complex and its interfacial interaction

Based on the composite pollution of atmospheric microbial aerosol, this paper selects the calcite/bacteria complex as the research object which was prepared by calcite particles and two common strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) in the solution system. The morphology, particle size, surface potential, and surface groups of the complex were explored by modern analysis and testing methods, with an emphasis on the interfacial interaction between calcite and bacteria. The SEM, TEM, and CLSM results showed that the morphology of the complex could be divided into three types: bacteria adhering to the surface or edge of micro-CaCO(3), bacteria aggregating with nano-CaCO(3), and single nano-CaCO(3) wrapping bacteria. The complex’s particle size was about 2.07 ~ 192.4 times larger than the original mineral particles, and the nano-CaCO(3)/bacteria complex’s particle size variation was caused by the fact that nano-CaCO(3) has agglomeration in solution. The surface potential of the micro-CaCO(3)/bacteria complex (isoelectric point pH = 3.0) lies between micro-CaCO(3) and bacteria, while the surface potential of the nano-CaCO(3)/bacteria complex (isoelectric point pH = 2.0) approaches the nano-CaCO(3). The complex’s surface groups were based primarily on the infrared characteristics of calcite particles, accompanied by the infrared characteristics of bacteria, displaying the interfacial interaction from the protein, polysaccharides, and phosphodiester groups of bacteria. The interfacial action of the micro-CaCO(3)/bacteria complex is mainly driven by electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding force, while the nano-CaCO(3)/bacteria complex is guided by surface complexation and hydrogen bonding force. The increase in the β-fold/α-helix ratio of the calcite/S. aureus complex indicated that the secondary structure of bacterial surface proteins was more stable and the hydrogen bond effect was strong than the calcite/E. coli complex. The findings are expected to provide basic data for the mechanism research of atmospheric composite particles closer to the real environment.