Influence of dissolved aluminum concentration on sulfur-oxidizing bacterial activity in the biodeterioration of concrete

The bacteriostatic effect of aluminum has been suggested to explain the strong resistance of these materials to biogenic deterioration. However, no clear demonstration of the negative effect of aluminum on cell growth has been yet provided in the literature. This present study has the aim to investigate the inhibitory potential of dissolved aluminum on non-sterileopen microbial cultures containing sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms.The study focuse on the production of inocula for testing the potential inhibition of dissolved aluminum on sulfo-oxidizing bacteria.Samples of microbial enrichments presenting sulfur oxidizing activity were produced under various environmental conditions (pH). These inocula were developped as biofilms either on plates made of mortar or of polyethylene plastic.