• Khushboo J. Patel
• Dr. Hetal K. Panchal

Urease is known to catalyze the hydrolysis of urea present in the environment generating ammonia and carbonate. This carbonate in the presence of calcium ion precipitates as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), the deposition of CaCO₃ precipitates is known as Biocement. Biocement is the binding material, which bind sand particles together to increase the shear strength which is the base for sand consolidation. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of urease producing microorganisms to produce biocement. For this study urease producing microorganisms were isolated from six different samples, tested for urease production & urea tolerance capacity and selected isolates were assessed for the biocement production. From six different samples total 14 isolates were obtained, from which only 4 isolates (U1, U2, U3 and U4) were selected on the basis of urease production within 48 hrs. From the selected 4 isolates 2 isolates (U1&U3) were selected on the basis of urea tolerance capacity and assessed for the biocement production and ability for sand consolidation. Study was also carried out with 2 known urease producing laboratory available bacteria Proteus vulgaris & Klebsiella pneumoniae. Selected isolates and known bacteria were able to produce biocement in hard water. U1, U3, P.vulgaris & K.pneumoniae produced 0.88g/l, 0.76g/l, 0.60g/l & 0.72g/l biocement respectively. For the sand consolidation test isolates, cementation solution and sand were mixed in plastic cup and incubated for 15-20 days and were capable to produce biocementation between sand particles.

Biocement, CaCO3 precipitation, Sand consolidation, Urease

"Assessment of Biocement Production Capability of Urease Producing Isolates", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 3, page no.281-285, March-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1903A43.pdf

"Assessment of Biocement Production Capability of Urease Producing Isolates", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 3, page no. pp281-285, March-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1903A43.pdf