ABSTRACT
This paper demonstrates the use of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to detect microbial metabolic products on carbonate mineral surfaces. By creating an ATR-FTIR spectral database for specific organic acids using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy we were able to distinguish metabolic acids on calcite surfaces following Escherichia coli growth. The production of these acids by E. coli was verified using high-performance liquid chromatography with refractive index detection. The development of this technique has allowed us to identify microbial metabolic products on carbonate surfaces in nutrient-limited cave environments.
FOOTNOTES
- Received 30 December 2007.
- Accepted 13 May 2008.
↵▿ Published ahead of print on 23 May 2008.
↵† Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://aem.asm.org/.
- American Society for Microbiology
