Photosynthetic microorganism-mediated synthesis of akaganeite (beta-FeOOH) nanorods.

Common Anabaena and Calothrix cyanobacteria and Klebsormidium green algae are shown to form intracellularly akaganeite beta-FeOOH nanorods of well-controlled size and unusual morphology at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) analyses are used to investigate particle structure, size, and morphology. A mechanism involving iron-siderophore complex formation is proposed and compared with iron biomineralization in magnetotactic bacteria.