Abstract:In recent years, application of the technology of microbial mineralization has become one of the research hotspots in the field of environmental pollution control. Application of the technology of microbial mineralization has an excellent potential to remove arsenic from water and reduce arsenic bioavailability in soil. Here is a review to summarize mechanisms of the technology of microbial arsenic mineralization and applications of the technology in remediation of arsenic contaminated environments based on the relationship between typical mineralizing bacteria and arsenic mineralization:(1) Carbonate mineralizing bacteria, Fe/Mn oxidizing bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria in the environment can directly promote formation of arsenic containing minerals or generation of some minerals capable of adsorbing arsenic. Mechanisms, characteristics and formation conditions of the microbial mineralization were explored, through analysis of products and factors of the arsenic mineralization. Microbial induced carbonate precipitation(MICP) can remove As from water or soil solution through adsorption or coprecipitation. Iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) can oxidize Fe(II) into Fe(III) and induce formation of iron oxide and other minerals that adsorb As or reaction of arsenate with Fe(III) to form scorodite(FeAsO4·2H2O). Manganese-oxidizing bacteria(MnOB) can remove As in a similar way as FeOB do. Under sulfate reducing conditions, arsenic can be removed from water through precipitating in orpiment-like phase (As2S3), realgar-like phase(AsS) or arsenopyrite-like phase (FeAsS) with the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB). Alternatively, arsenic can be removed through being adsorbed in biogenic mackinawite-like phase(FeS), greigite-like phase(Fe3S4) and pyrite-like phase(FeS2) in the presence of iron; (2) Researches at home and abroad on application of the microbial mineralization technology to treating arsenic contamination of water and soil are summarized. The technology can reduce solubility or concentration of extractable arsenic in water and soil and subsequently increase As concentration markedly in the mineral fractions therein after bioremediation; (3) Initial As concentration, coexisting metal ions, pH, temperature and nutrient concentration can affect efficiency of the microbial mineralization. Microbial mineralization is a potential technology to treat arsenic pollution in the environment. However, further studies need to be done as to how to effectively apply the technology to actual treatment of arsenic pollution. And further efforts need to be devoted to exploration of more stable methods to prevent arsenic dissolution from minerals, and development of theories of the application of the microbial mineralization technology to environmental pollution control in combination with practical problems.