The effects of CaCO3 on adsorption, immobilization and activity of cellulase in a decarbonated soil

The interaction of organic molecules with mineral surfaces is a subject of interest in a variety of disciplines. The present study was done to elucidate some aspects of sorption and immobilization of cellulase on soil components by analysis of the sorption, desorption, immobilization and activity of cellulase on a decarbonated soil treated with different levels of CaCO3 (0, 2.5, 10 and 20 %). Applied concentrations of cellulase protein on Ca-homoionized soil suspensions were 0, 0.014, 0.028, 0.070, 0.140, 0.280, 0.701, 0.981 and 1.402 mg mL-1. After shaking for 1 h in sterile conditions, they were centrifuged and the amount of the cellulase protein remaining in solution was determined. The adsorbed cellulase protein was calculated. The immobilized and desorbed cellulase proteins were calculated after washing soil suspensions thrice with distilled water. Analysis of variance showed that the effects of the enzyme concentration, CaCO3 level and their interaction on cellulase protein adsorption and activity were statistically significant. The adsorption and immobilization capacities of the decarbonated soil increased by application of CaCO3. However, these effects of CaCO3 were only significant when high concentrations of cellulase protein were added to the soil. The desorption of cellulase protein from the decarbonated soil did not depend on the amount of cellulase adsorbed on the soil and the CaCO3 level in the soil. The immobilized cellulase activity, and particularly its specific activity, decreased considerably by increasing CaCO3 levels in the soil. This negative effect of CaCO3 on the cellulase specific activity in the decarbonated soil was significant even for low levels.