Jack Bean Urease Extraction for Low-Cost EICP Biocementation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of commercially available urease enzyme hinders the adoption of enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) in engineering applications, as it is expensive and not readily scalable for kilogram-scale use.
Innovation Solution
A method for extracting urease from agricultural products like jack beans, involving soaking, homogenizing, filtering, and lyophilizing to produce a powdered crude extract, which is then used in a biocementation solution with calcium ions and enzyme stabilizers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commercially available purified urease enzyme is used, then enzymatic activity and reliability are ensured, but the cost becomes prohibitively high for engineering applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts urease enzyme from jack bean seeds through a multi-step process involving soaking, blending, filtration, and concentration. This extraction method produces a crude enzyme preparation that retains sufficient catalytic activity for EICP applications while eliminating the need for expensive commercial purification processes, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a cost-effective crude enzyme extract derived from agricultural byproducts (jack bean seeds) rather than investing in expensive purified commercial enzyme. The crude extract, while not highly purified, provides adequate enzymatic activity for the intended application, representing a pragmatic choice that prioritizes cost-effectiveness over maximum purity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multi-step extraction and purification process is used to produce commercial urease, then enzyme purity and activity are improved, but the complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simplified extraction protocol that obtains sufficient urease activity from jack bean seeds without requiring the complex multi-step purification processes used in commercial enzyme production. The method involves basic steps of soaking, blending, filtering, and concentration, achieving a practical balance between purity and process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial purification rather than complete purification. The crude enzyme extract contains some impurities but provides adequate enzymatic activity for EICP applications. This partial action approach eliminates the need for complex purification steps while maintaining sufficient enzyme functionality for the intended purpose.
3Adaptability or versatility
If kilogram-scale supply of urease is required for engineering applications, then the application scope expands, but the cost and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes jack bean seeds, an agricultural byproduct, as the raw material source for urease production. This self-service approach leverages readily available, low-cost material that can be processed at scale without requiring expensive specialized inputs, enabling kilogram-scale production for engineering applications while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the scale parameter from gram-scale commercial enzyme production to kilogram-scale crude extract production. By adjusting the extraction process parameters and using bulk agricultural materials, the method enables large-scale production that is economically viable for civil and materials engineering applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly reduces the commercial cost of enzyme by a factor of approximately 40, making EICP more cost-effective for engineering applications, and maintains enzymatic activity and stability, facilitating effective biocementation processes.
Implementation Method 1
Carbonate precipitation via hydrolysis of urea is one technique that has been investigated by geotechnical researchers for use in binding granular soil particles together
Implementation Method 2
This technique utilizes the urease enzyme to catalyze the hydrolysis of urea in an aqueous solution
Implementation Method 3
soaking a seed in an aqueous solution
Implementation Method 4
homogenizing the seed to produce a homogenized suspension, and filtering the homogenize suspension to produce a crude extract
Implementation Method 5
homogenizing the seed to produce a homogenized suspension
Implementation Method 6
filtering the homogenize suspension to produce a crude extract
Implementation Method 7
the method may further comprise at least one of lyophilizing and drying the crude extract to produce a powdered crude extract
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods of extracting an enzyme, comprising soaking a seed in an aqueous solution, homogenizing the seed to produce a homogenized suspension, and filtering the homogenized suspension to produce a crude extract, wherein the crude extract comprises urease and non-urease proteins.