Leveraging the concretes calcification with carbonic anhydrase produced by Alcaligenes faecalis GA(B) (Mn847724.1)

Abstract

Concrete is an integrated substance that is composed of cement, water, and aggregates. The aim of this study was to biocalcify concretes with bacterial carbonic anhydrase (CA). To achieve this, a soil sample taken from a construction site in Minna Nigeria, was serially diluted and plated on nutrient agar with CaCO3 added. After 7, 14 and 28 days of curing by water immersion, the compressive strength of the concrete was determined and the effects of CA on the concretes were investigated. Alcaligenes faecalis was identified as the isolate with the better ability for CA production. The CA has a mean activity of 0.0351 U/ml, an increase in substrate concentration on CA activity from 1 to 7 mM, an optimum temperature of 50 ◦C and pH of 8.5. Concretes calcified with CA from A. faecalis gained a strength of 48.29 % after 28 days of curing by water immersion. The results demonstrated that CA has an enormous potential in concrete biocalcification.