Microbial phytase-induced calcium-phosphate precipitation--a potential soil stabilization method
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- MeSH
- 6-Phytase metabolism MeSH
- Calcium Phosphates metabolism MeSH
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
- Soil analysis MeSH
- Soil Microbiology * MeSH
- Saccharomycetales enzymology metabolism MeSH
- Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- 6-Phytase MeSH
- calcium phosphate MeSH Browser
- Calcium Phosphates MeSH
- Soil MeSH
Two hypotheses were tested: (1) microbial dephosphorylation of phytate in the presence of Ca²+ ions will result in the precipitation of hydroxyapatite-like crystals and (2) precipitation of calcium-phosphate crystals on and between sand-like particles can cause cementation. A growing culture of the dimorphic phytase-active yeast Arxula adeninivorans was introduced into a column filled with quartz particles and subsequently a liquid growth medium amended with calcium phytate was pumped through the column resulting in increased strength and stiffness of the quartz particle matrix. Environmental scanning electron microscope analysis combined with energy-dispersive X-ray measurement revealed cementation of the quartz particles by calcium-phosphate crystals. This microbial mineralization process could provide a novel approach to improving the mechanical properties like strength and stiffness of sandy soils.
