These bacteria produced the enzyme urease which can hydrolyze urea. Due to this enzymatic reaction, soil pH increased and carbonate was produced, which results in mineralization of the soluble heavy metal ions present in soil water and their ultimate conversion to carbonates.It is being investigated for possible usefulness in a multitude of applications including underground storage of carbon, healing masonry structures of archaeological importance, and long-term sealing of geologic cracks in large-scale structures.