INTERACTION OF EXTRACELLULAR PROTEINS ON THE SURFACE OF AMORPHOUS SILICA

Extracellular proteins are important biological molecules present in the various earth surface environments. These proteins have a strong adsorption affinity for the mineral surfaces, however there is little information about the effects on the rate and extent of mineral dissolution. Recent experimental studies of amorphous silica dissolution by interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and related organic molecules such as amino acids and some heterocyclic compounds indicate that these molecules exhibit significant rate-enhancement effects on the dissolution of amorphous silica depending mainly on their functional properties. This paper summarizes the rate-enhancement effects of these organic molecules on amorphous silica dissolution, and discusses the interaction mechanism enhancing the dissolution.