Calcite precipitation by ureolytic plant (Canavalia ensiformis) extracts as effective biomaterials

In Hyun Nam, Chul Min Chon, Ka Young Jung, Sun Gyu Choi, Hyeoksun Choi, Sung Sik Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

An extract of the indigenous plant jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) was used to produce calcite, an effective biomaterial. The formation of calcite using this extract was compared, under stable conditions, to that using commercially available purified urease. Xray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to elucidate the mechanism of calcite formation from the crude plant extracts. The results revealed that urease in the jack bean crude extracts catalyzed the hydrolysis of urea in liquid-state cultures. The procedure described herein is a simple and useful method of calcite mineral precipitation that does not require cultivation of microorganisms or further purification of crude extracts. This study suggests that crude extracts of Canavalia ensiformis have the potential to be used in place of purified forms of urease during remediation of cracks and to increase the strength of materials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1620-1625
Number of pages6
JournalKSCE Journal of Civil Engineering
Volume19
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Sep 2015

Keywords

  • biomaterial
  • calcite precipitation
  • canavalia ensiformis extracts
  • urease

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