Effect of Cementation on Calcium Carbonate Precipitation of Loose Sand Resulting from Microbial Treatment

Abstract

Microbe-induced calcite precipitation is a sustainable improvement technique for sandy soil, which can alter the properties of sand via microbial activity. In this study, we investigated the loose-sand-consolidation effect by controlling the injection velocity, bacterial and cementing-solution concentrations, and hold times. The results demonstrate that, as the cyclic batch increases, the utilization rate of the bacterial fluid increases and both the optical density (OD₆₀₀) of the bacteria and urease activity decrease. Moreover, it was determined that a 3-h hold time for a 0.5 mol/L cementing solution with a cementing fluid velocity of 2 mL/min has the greatest bonding effect. The final strength of the loose sand with an increase in calcium carbonate content was further discussed.

Keywords

Microbe-induced calcite precipitation / Consolidation effect / Urease / CO₂ volume evaluation method / Loose sand

References

[1] Schneider M, Romer M, Tschudin M, et al. Sustainable cement production—present and future. Cem Concr Res, 2011, 41: 642-650.

[2] Cayan DR, Bromirski PD, Hayhoe K, et al. Climate change projections of sea level extremes along the California coast. Clim Change, 2008, 87: 57-73.

[3] Karol RH, Mortensen BM, Martinez BC, et al. Bio-mediated soil improvement. Ecol Eng, 2010, 36: 197-210.

[4] Karol HR (2003) Chemical grouting and soil stabilization, Revised and Expanded, 3rd edn. Rutgers University, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New Jersey

[5] Ramachandran SK, Ramakrishnan V, Bang SS. Remediation of concrete using micro-organisms. ACI Mater J, 2001, 98: 3-9.

[6] De Muynck W, De Belie N, Verstraete W. Microbial carbonate precipitation in construction materials: a review. Ecol Eng, 2010, 36: 118-136.

[7] Salifu E, MacLachlan E, Iyer KR, et al. Application of microbially induced calcite precipitation in erosion mitigation and stabilisation of sandy soil foreshore slopes: a preliminary investigation. Eng Geol, 2016, 201: 96-105.

[8] Khaliq W, Ehsan MB. Crack healing in concrete using various bio influenced self-healing techniques. Constr Build Mater, 2016, 102: 349-357.

[9] Hammes F, Boon N, de Villiers J, et al. Strain-specific ureolytic microbial calcium carbonate precipitation. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2003, 69: 4901-4909.

[10] Whiffin VS, van Paassen LA, Harkes MP. Microbial carbonate precipitation as a soil improvement technique. Geomicrobiol J, 2007, 24: 417-423.

[11] Ivanov V, Chu J. Applications of microorganisms to geotechnical engineering for bioclogging and biocementation of soil in situ. Rev Environ Sci Bio Technol, 2008, 7: 139-153.

[12] Nemati M, Voordouw G. Modification of porous media permeability, using calcium carbonate produced enzymatically in situ. Enzyme Microb Technol, 2003, 33: 635-642.

[13] Achal V, Mukherjee A. A review of microbial precipitation for sustainable construction. Constr Build Mater, 2015, 93: 1224-1235.

[14] Okwadha GD, Li J. Optimum conditions for microbial carbonate precipitation. Chemosphere, 2010, 81: 1143-1148.

[15] Huang Y, Luo XG, He J, et al. Studies on the experiment of microbiologically-induced calcite precipitation in silica. J Southwest Univ Sci Technol, 2009, 24: 65-69 (in Chinese)

[16] Rong H, Qian CX, Zhang L, et al. Cementation process of microbe cement. J Chin Ceram Soc, 2015, 43: 1067-1075 (in Chinese)

[17] Mitchell AC, Dideriksen K, Spangler LH, et al. Microbially enhanced carbon capture and storage by mineral-trapping and solubility-trapping. Environ Sci Technol, 2010, 44: 5270-5276.

[18] Knoll AH. Biomineralization and evolutionary history. Rev Mineral Geochem, 2003, 54(1): 329-356.

[19] Rong H (2014) Preparation and binding mechanism of microbe cement. Dissertation, Southeast University, Nanjing, China (in Chinese)

[20] Neupane D, Yasuhara H, Kinoshita N, et al. Distribution of mineralized carbonate and its quantification method in enzyme mediated calcite precipitation technique. Soils Found, 2015, 55: 447-457.

[21] Zhao Q (2014) Experimental study on soil improvement using microbial induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Dissertation, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China (in Chinese)

[22] Harkes MP, van Paassen LA, Booster JL, et al. Fixation and distribution of bacterial activity in sand to induce carbonate precipitation for ground reinforcement. Ecol Eng, 2010, 36: 112-117.

[23] Stocks-Fischer S, Galinat JK, Bang SS. Microbiological precipitation of CaCO₃. Soil Biol Biochem, 1999, 31: 1563-1571.