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Assessing ureolytic bacteria with calcifying abilities isolated from limestone caves for biocalcification
A I Omoregie1, D E L Ong2, P M Nissom1
1School of Chemical Engineering and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Letters in Applied Microbiology
|December 12, 2018
Summary
Limestone caves harbor ureolytic bacteria with potential for biocalcification. These microbes can be used for soil stabilization and crack repair, offering a novel source for geotechnical engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Geomicrobiology
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Biocalcification using ureolytic bacteria is a key technology for soil stabilization, crack repair, and bioremediation.
- Most studies focus on isolating ureolytic bacteria from soil and sewage, neglecting potential sources like limestone caves.
- Limestone caves, with natural calcite formations, represent an underexplored niche for discovering novel ureolytic bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize ureolytic bacteria from limestone cave samples.
- To assess the suitability of these cave-derived bacteria for biocalcification applications.
- To explore the potential of these bacteria as bio-calcifying agents in geotechnical engineering.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of 27 morphologically distinct bacterial strains from limestone cave samples.
- Identification of isolates using partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, revealing Sporosarcina, Pseudogracilibacillus, and Bacillus genera.
- Quantification of urease activity and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation potential for each isolate.
Main Results:
- Sporosarcina was the most abundant genus among the identified ureolytic isolates.
- Urease activities ranged from 1.130 to 21.513 mol urea hydrolyzed per minute.
- Calcium carbonate precipitation varied from 4.04 to 17.26 mg/ml, indicating significant biocalcification potential.
Conclusions:
- Limestone caves are a promising source for isolating effective ureolytic bacteria.
- The identified bacterial isolates demonstrate significant potential as bio-calcifying agents.
- These findings support the use of cave-derived ureolytic bacteria for soil strengthening and stabilization in geotechnical applications.
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