Synthesizing Sodium Tungstate and Sodium Molybdate Microcapsules via Bacterial Mineral Excretion.

Title Synthesizing Sodium Tungstate and Sodium Molybdate Microcapsules via Bacterial Mineral Excretion.
Authors P.H. Lin; Y.T. Huang; F.W. Lin
Journal J Vis Exp
DOI 10.3791/57022
Abstract

We present a method, the bacterial mineral excretion (BME), for synthesizing two kinds of microcapsules, sodium tungstate and sodium molybdate, and the two metal oxides' corresponding nanoparticles-the former being as small as 22 nm and the latter 15 nm. We fed two strains of bacteria, Shewanella algae and Pandoraea sp., with various concentrations of tungstate or molybdate ions. The concentrations of tungstate and molybdate were adjusted to make microcapsules of different length-to-diameter ratios. We found that the higher the concentration the smaller the nanoparticles were. The nanoparticles came in with three length-to-diameter ratios: 10:1, 3:1 and 1:1, which were achieved by feeding the bacteria respectively with a low concentration, a medium concentration, and a high concentration. The images of the hollow microcapsules were taken via the scanning electron microsphere (SEM). Their crystal structures were verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD)-the crystal structure of molybdate microcapsules is Na2MoO4 and that of tungstate microcapsules is Na2WO4 with Na2W2O7. These syntheses all were accomplished under a near ambient condition.

Citation P.H. Lin; Y.T. Huang; F.W. Lin.Synthesizing Sodium Tungstate and Sodium Molybdate Microcapsules via Bacterial Mineral Excretion.. J Vis Exp. 2018;(131). doi:10.3791/57022

Related Elements

Tungsten

See more Tungsten products. Tungsten (atomic symbol: W, atomic number: 74) is a Block D, Group 6, Period 6 element with an atomic weight of 183.84. The number of electrons in each of tungsten's shells is [2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2] and its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d4 6s2. Tungsten Bohr ModelThe tungsten atom has a radius of 139 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 210 pm. Tungsten was discovered by Torbern Bergman in 1781 and first isolated by Juan José Elhuyar and Fausto Elhuyar in 1783. In its elemental form, tungsten has a grayish white, lustrous appearance. Elemental TungstenTungsten has the highest melting point of all the metallic elements and a density comparable to that or uranium or gold and about 1.7 times that of lead. Tungsten alloys are often used to make filaments and targets of x-ray tubes. It is found in the minerals scheelite (CaWO4) and wolframite [(Fe,Mn)WO4]. In reference to its density, Tungsten gets its name from the Swedish words tung and sten, meaning heavy stone.

Molybdenum

See more Molybdenum products. Molybdenum (atomic symbol: Mo, atomic number: 42) is a Block D, Group 6, Period 5 element with an atomic weight of 95.96. Molybdenum Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of molybdenum's shells is [2, 8, 18, 13, 1] and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d5 5s1. The molybdenum atom has a radius of 139 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 209 pm. In its elemental form, molybdenum has a gray metallic appearance. Molybdenum was discovered by Carl Wilhelm in 1778 and first isolated by Peter Jacob Hjelm in 1781. Molybdenum is the 54th most abundant element in the earth's crust. Elemental MolybdenumIt has the third highest melting point of any element, exceeded only by tungsten and tantalum. Molybdenum does not occur naturally as a free metal, it is found in various oxidation states in minerals. The primary commercial source of molybdenum is molybdenite, although it is also recovered as a byproduct of copper and tungsten mining. The origin of the name Molybdenum comes from the Greek word molubdos meaning lead.

Sodium

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