Abstract
Dissolution experiments of amorphous silica in both biotic and abiotic systems were carried out to evaluate the effects of bacteria on its dissolution rate and to confirm bacterial factors enhancing the dissolution rate. Results of the biotic experiments indicated that the bacteria have strong rate-enhancement effects on the dissolution of amorphous silica depending on their concentrations. This rate-enhancement seems to be mainly caused by protein released from bacteria cells. Such rate-enhancement was also confirmed by dissolution experiments in the system containing egg albumin.
