Dissolution of dolomite and magnesite by catalysis of carbonic anhydrase and apocarbonic anhydrase

Abstract

In this paper, dolomite (CaMg(CO3)(2)) and magnesite (MgCO3) were dissolved by using carbonic anhydrase and apocarbonic anhydrase. For this purpose, bovine carbonic anhydrase was purified from bovine erythrocyte hemolysate by using affinity chromatography. In order to obtain apoCA, the zinc ion bound to CA was removed by chelating with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid. As a result, 100% purified apoenzyme was obtained. The dissolution rates increase after addition carbonic anhydrase or apocarbonic anhydrase to solutions, which the CA catalyzes CO2 conversion. The experimental observations give a conclusion that the dolomite and magnesite were selectively dissolved by the catalysis with carbonic anhydrase and apocarbonic anhydrase. In this process Ca2+ was dissolved completely but Mg2+ remained in the mine.