Adhesion of Escherichia coli onto quartz

This study explores the adhesion of Escherichia coli onto mineral surfaces, specifically quartz, hematite, and corundum, through the lens of the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The objective is to understand how various surface properties influence bacterial adherence, which is critical in biofilm formation and mineral separation processes. The methodology involves calculating adhesion energy as a function of separation distance, accounting for interactions such as Lifshitz-van der-Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, and acid-base interactions. Results demonstrate that bacterial adhesion is significantly affected by surface charge and energy components, showing variability with different bacterial strains and minerals. For instance, E. coli was identified as an effective flotation collector for quartz under acidic conditions. The findings shed light on the dynamic interactions between microbial cells and mineral surfaces, revealing the potential of bio-treatments to influence the hydrophobicity and overall surface properties of minerals in industrial applications.