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This study investigates the direct and indirect bacterial contributions that influence the dissolution of basaltic glass. In this regard, three different types of glasses – with or without Fe, in the reduced Fe(II) or oxidized Fe(III) states – were prepared on the basis of a simplified basaltic glass composition. In order to prevent the direct contact between the glasses and the model siderophore-producing strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa , the glass samples were isolated in dialysis bags and immersed at 25 °C and pH 6.5 in bacterial cultures. Throughout the dissolution experiments, the following parameters were monitored: determination of bacterial growth, quantification of siderophore (i.e. pyoverdine) production, microscopic observation of the glass surface and determination of dissolution kinetics. Isolating the glass from the bacterial suspension only triggered the biosynthesis of siderophores in the Fe(III)-bearing glass dissolution experiments. Siderophores were produced in the presence of Fe(II)-bearing and Fe-free glass, independently on the experimental setup. The siderophore production appeared to be either continuous in the absence of Fe (glass-free control, Fe-free glass dissolution experiments) or stopped as soon as the bacteria entered their stationary phase when an Fe source was present (Fe(II) and Fe(III)-bearing glass dissolution experiments). The increase in the dissolution rates of each glass was correlated to the complex stability constants of the siderophore with the metallic cations in presence (KFe2+ < KAl3+ ≪ KFe3+). Among the three glasses, only the Fe(III)-bearing one seemed to be significantly impacted by the dialysis process: its dissolution rate was doubled by isolating the glass grains from the cells. These results particularly allow to separate the impact of such bacterial exudates from physical contact effects: they showed the efficiency of pyoverdine in increasing the dissolution of an Fe(III)-bearing glass and evidenced that a direct bacterial cell attachment to the surface of such a glass results in a more moderate enhancement of its dissolution process. This work is a new contribution regarding the high affinity of microorganisms for basaltic glasses as an Fe-source. It highlights the role of Fe(III) accessibility upon the bacterial cells as a key parameter regulating their activity and their efficiency in accelerating the dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the role of micro-organisms and their siderophores in the first steps of the alteration processes of basaltic glasses in aqueous media. In this regard, three different types of glasses – with or without iron, in the reduced Fe(II) or oxidized Fe(III) states – were prepared on the basis of a simplified basaltic glass composition. Control and Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculated experiments were performed in a buffered (pH 6.5) nutrient depleted medium to stimulate the production of the pyoverdine siderophore. Results show that the presence of P. aeruginosa has an effect on the dissolution kinetics of all glasses as most of the calculated elemental release rates are increased compared to sterile conditions. Reciprocally, the composition of the glass in contact with P. aeruginosa has an impact on the bacterial growth and siderophore production. As an essential nutrient for this microbial strain, Fe notably appears to play a central role during biotic experiments. Its presence in the glass stimulates the bacterial growth and minimizes the synthesis of pyoverdine. Moreover the initial Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio in the glasses modulates this synthesis, as pyoverdine is not detected at all in the system in contact with Fe(III)-bearing glass. Finally, the dissolution rates appear to be correlated to siderophore concentrations as they increase with respect to sterile experiments in the order Fe(III)-bearing glass < Fe(II)-bearing glass < Fe-free glass. This increase is attributed to complexation reactions between siderophores and Fe or Al for Fe(II)-bearing glass or Fe-free glass, respectively. The dissolution of an Fe-free glass is significantly improved in the presence of bacteria, as initial dissolution rates are increased by a factor of 3. This study attests to the essential role of siderophores in the P. aeruginosa -promoted dissolution processes of basaltic glasses as well as to the complex relationships between the nutritional potential of the glass and its dissolution rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]