Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology

Abstract Sustainable biomineralization technologies rely on the efficient hydrolysis of urea, typically catalyzed by urease-producing microorganisms or purified enzymes. However, conventional approaches such as microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) and enzyme induced calcium car...

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Main Authors: Yuyuan Chen, Hemanta Hazarika
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44268-025-00056-8
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author Yuyuan Chen
Hemanta Hazarika
author_facet Yuyuan Chen
Hemanta Hazarika
author_sort Yuyuan Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sustainable biomineralization technologies rely on the efficient hydrolysis of urea, typically catalyzed by urease-producing microorganisms or purified enzymes. However, conventional approaches such as microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) and enzyme induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) face limitations related to biosafety risks and high costs, respectively. In this study, soybean, an abundant and low-cost agricultural resource, was utilized to extract urease through a soaking and centrifugation process. A geometric modeling approach using tri-axial ellipsoid theory was introduced to explain how soybean grain size affects sieved powder yield. The effects of soybean grain size, powder concentration, temperature, pH, and storage conditions on the urease activity were systematically evaluated. Results showed that smaller soybean particle sizes resulted in lower extraction efficiency, whereas medium-grain soybeans provided the most cost-effective source due to their higher sieved powder yield and lower market price. Urease activity was positively correlated with both powder concentration and temperature within the tested range and reached its maximum at approximately pH 8. Additionally, storage at 4 °C significantly preserved the enzyme's initial activity over 72 h compared to room temperature conditions. These findings establish a practical foundation for the cost-effective production of plant-derived urease, promoting broader application of biomineralization techniques in sustainable geotechnical engineering.
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spelling doaj-art-52449a0e36d84d82ab3e9eb4a5cc8f5b2025-08-20T04:03:07ZengSpringerSmart Construction and Sustainable Cities2731-90322025-07-013111210.1007/s44268-025-00056-8Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technologyYuyuan Chen0Hemanta Hazarika1Kyushu UniversityKyushu UniversityAbstract Sustainable biomineralization technologies rely on the efficient hydrolysis of urea, typically catalyzed by urease-producing microorganisms or purified enzymes. However, conventional approaches such as microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) and enzyme induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) face limitations related to biosafety risks and high costs, respectively. In this study, soybean, an abundant and low-cost agricultural resource, was utilized to extract urease through a soaking and centrifugation process. A geometric modeling approach using tri-axial ellipsoid theory was introduced to explain how soybean grain size affects sieved powder yield. The effects of soybean grain size, powder concentration, temperature, pH, and storage conditions on the urease activity were systematically evaluated. Results showed that smaller soybean particle sizes resulted in lower extraction efficiency, whereas medium-grain soybeans provided the most cost-effective source due to their higher sieved powder yield and lower market price. Urease activity was positively correlated with both powder concentration and temperature within the tested range and reached its maximum at approximately pH 8. Additionally, storage at 4 °C significantly preserved the enzyme's initial activity over 72 h compared to room temperature conditions. These findings establish a practical foundation for the cost-effective production of plant-derived urease, promoting broader application of biomineralization techniques in sustainable geotechnical engineering.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44268-025-00056-8Soybean ureaseSoybean grain sizeTemperaturePHStorage period
spellingShingle Yuyuan Chen
Hemanta Hazarika
Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities
Soybean urease
Soybean grain size
Temperature
PH
Storage period
title Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
title_full Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
title_fullStr Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
title_full_unstemmed Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
title_short Extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
title_sort extraction efficiency and activity determinants of soybean urease for sustainable biomineralization technology
topic Soybean urease
Soybean grain size
Temperature
PH
Storage period
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44268-025-00056-8
work_keys_str_mv AT yuyuanchen extractionefficiencyandactivitydeterminantsofsoybeanureaseforsustainablebiomineralizationtechnology
AT hemantahazarika extractionefficiencyandactivitydeterminantsofsoybeanureaseforsustainablebiomineralizationtechnology