Skip Navigation Links
Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management
António Mendes Lopes (editor), Jiazhong Zhang(editor)
António Mendes Lopes (editor)

University of Porto, Portugal

Email: aml@fe.up.pt

Jiazhong Zhang (editor)

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710049, China

Fax: +86 29 82668723 Email: jzzhang@mail.xjtu.edu.cn


Sustainable Ground Improvement Through Microbial Induced Calcium Precipitation -- A Review

Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management 10(2) (2022) 143--155 | DOI:10.5890/JEAM.2022.06.003

Pa. Suriya, S.P. Sangeetha

Department of Civil Engineering, Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology deemed to be Vinayaka missions Research

Foundation, Chennai -- 603104, India

Download Full Text PDF

 

Abstract

Microbial induced calcium precipitation (MICP) is one of the important emerging techniques in ground improvement. This technique is mainly based on Bio mineralization, which is the process of producing minerals (calcium carbonate) by living organisms called microbes. This technique is widely used in various fields such as biotechnology, geo technology, and also in paleo biology. Apart from the above applications, it is also used to remove the heavy metals, radio nucleotide, and atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration. This paper reviews the approaches of various researchers on this technology applied for different types of soil such as clayey, silty soil, sandy soil and analyzed their optimum conditions to achieve their maximum shear strength. As well as, it is also discussing about the various influencing factors of microbial induced calcite precipitation like calcium concentration, dissolved matters of inorganic carbon concentration, pH of bacterial solution, and nucleation sites availability predominantly. As revealed from the literature reviewed the importance of the processing of bacteria at the optimum condition to adopt sustainable soil stabilization and various precipitations of polymorphs forms were effectively discussed. Though application of MICP and efficiency are required more to elevate in this technique for the field scale.

References

  1. [1]  Achal, V. and Mukherjee, A. (2015), A review of microbial precipitation for sustainable construction, Construction Building Materials, 93, 1224-1235.
  2. [2]  Arab, M. G., Rohy, H., Zeiada, W., Almajed, A., and Omar, M. (2021), One-Phase EICP Biotreatment of Sand Exposed to Various Environmental Conditions, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 33(3), 04020489.
  3. [3]  Chang, I. and Cho, G. (2018), Shear strength behavior and parameters of microbial gellan gum-treated soils: from sand to clay, Acta Geotechnica, 4, 1-15
  4. [4]  Cheshomi, A., Mansouri, S., and Amoozegar, M. (2018), Improving the Shear Strength of Quartz Sand using the Microbial method, Geomicrobiology Journal, On line at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2018.1462868.
  5. [5]  Cheng, L. and Cord, R. (2012), In situ soil cementation with ureolytic bacteria by surface percolation, Ecology Engineering, 42, 64--72.
  6. [6]  Cheng, L. (2012), Innovative ground enhancement by improved microbially induced caco3 precipitation technology, Ph.D. Thesis, Murdoch University, Australia.
  7. [7]  Cheng, L. and Cord, R. (2014), Upscaling effects of soil improvement by microbially induced calcite precipitation by surface percolation, Geomicrobiology Journal, 31(5), 396-406.
  8. [8]  Cheng, L., Shahin, A., and Cord, R. (2014), Bio-cementation of sandy soil using microbially induced carbonate Precipitation for marine environments, Geotechnique, 64(12), 1010-1013.
  9. [9]  Chou, J., Ivanov, V., Naeimi, M., Li, B., and Stabnikov, V. (2011), Development of microbial geo technology in Singapore. Proceeding of Geo frontiers advances in Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication, 211, 4070--4078.~
  10. [10]  Cunningham, A., Class, H., Ebigbo, A., Gerlach, R., Phillips, A., and Hommel, J. (2018), Field-scale modeling of microbially induced calcite precipitation, Computational Geosciences, On line at {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/ s10596-018-9797-6?shared-article-renderer}.
  11. [11]  Dawoud, O., Chen, Y., and Soga, K. (2014), Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation for Geotechnical and Environmental Applications, New Frontiers in Geotechnical Engineering GSP, 243, 11-18.
  12. [12]  DeJong, J.T., Fritzges, M.B., and Nusslein, K. (2006), Microbial induced cementation to control sand response to undrained shear, Geotechnology and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 132(11), 1381--1392.
  13. [13]  Dejong, J., Burbank, M., Kavazanjian, E., Weaver, T., Montoya, M., Hamdan, N., Bang, S., Esnault, A., Tsesarsky, M., Aydilek, A., Ciurli, S., Tanyu, B., Manning, C., Larrahondo, J., Soga, K., Chu, J., Cheng, X., Kuo, M., Qabany, A., Seagren, A., Van Paassen, A., Renforth, P., Nelson, C., Hata, T., Burns, S., Chen, Y., Caslake, F., Fauriel, S., Jefferis, S., Santamarina, C., Inagaki, Y., Martinez, B., and Palomino, A. (2013), Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: Progress, opportunities and challenges, Geotechnique, 63(4), 287-301.
  14. [14]  DeJong, J., Mortensen, B., Martinez, C., and Nelson, D.C. (2010), Biomediated soil improvement, Ecology Engineering, 36, 197--210.
  15. [15]  DeJong, J., Soga, K., Banwart, A., Whalley, R., Ginn, T., Nelson, C., Mortensen, M., Martinez, C., and Barkouki, T. (2011), Soil engineering in vivo: harnessing natural biogeochemical systems for sustainable, multi-functional engineering solutions, Journal of the Royal Society, 8(54), 1--15.
  16. [16]  DeJong, J., Gomez, M., Waller, J., and Viggiani, G. (2017), Influence of Bio-Cementation on the Shearing Behavior of Sand Using X-Ray Computed Tomography, Geotechnical Frontiers, 280, 871-880.
  17. [17]  Gebrehiwet, A., George, D., Yoshiko, F., Mikala, S., and Smith, R. (2012), The Effect of the CO$_{3}^{2-}$ to Ca$^{2+}$ Ion activity ratio on calcite precipitation kinetics and Sr$^{2+}$partitioning, Geochemical Transaction, 13, 1-11.
  18. [18]  Hataf, N. and Jamali, R. (2018), Effect of Fine-Grain Percent on Soil Strength Properties Improved by Biological Method, Geomicrobiology Journal, 35(8), 695-703
  19. [19]  Han, Z., Cheng, X., and Ma, Q. (2016), An experimental study on the dynamic response for MICP strengthening liquefiable sands, Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 15, 673-679.
  20. [20]  He, J., Chu, J., Wu, S., and Peng, J. (2016), Mitigation of soil liquefaction using microbially induced desaturation, Journal of Zhejiang University-science a, 17(7), 577-588.
  21. [21]  Hideaki, Y., Debendra, N., Kazuyuki, H., and Mitsu, O. (2012), Experiments and predictions of physical properties of sand cemented by enzymatically-induced carbonate precipitation, Soils and Foundations, 52(3), 539--549.
  22. [22]  Hui, R., Chun, Q., and Long, L. (2012), Study on microstructure and properties of sandstone cemented by microbe cement, Construction and Building Materials, 36, 687--694.
  23. [23]  Jiang, N.J., Tang, C.S., Yin, L.Y., Xie, Y.H., and Shi, B. (2019), Applicability of microbial calcification method for sandy-slope surface erosion control, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 31(11), 04019250.
  24. [24]  Jonkers, M. and Schlangen, E. (2008), Development of a bacteria-based self healing concrete, Tailor Made Concrete Structures, On line at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267716612.
  25. [25]  Khan, H., Kawasaki, S., and Hassan, R. (2016), Sand Solidification through Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation for Erosion Control: Prospects in Bangladesh, Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, 9(1), 59-61.
  26. [26]  Lee, M., Ng, W., and Tanaka, Y. (2013), Stress-deformation and compressibility responses of bio-mediated residual soils, Ecological Engineering, On line at https://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?q=10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.07.034 &hl=en&as{\_}sdt=0&as{\_}vis=1&oi=scholart.
  27. [27]  Li, C., Yao, D., Liu, S., Zhou, T., Bai, S., Gao, Y., and Li, L. (2017), Improvement of geomechanical properties of bio-remediated Aeolian sand, Geomicrobiology Journal, 35, 132-140.
  28. [28]  Lin, D., Lin, K., Hung, J., and Luo, L. (2007), Sludge ash/hydrated lime on the geotechnical properties of soft soil, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 145, 58--64.
  29. [29]  Maheswaran, S., Dasuru, S., Ramachandramurthy, A., Bhuvaneshwari, B., Ramesh Kumar, V., Palani, S., Iyer, S., Krishnamoorthy, R., and Sandhya, S. (2014), Strength improvement studies using new type wild strain Bacillus cereus on cement mortar, Current Science, 106(1), 50-57.
  30. [30]  Malcolm, B., Thomas, J., Weaver, L., Green, C., and Ronald, L. (2011), Precipitation of Calcite by Indigenous Microorganisms to Strengthen Liquefiable Soils, Geo microbiology Journal, 28(4), 301-312.
  31. [31]  Malcolm, B., Thomas, J., Barbara, C., and Ronald, L. (2012), Urease Activity of Ureolytic Bacteria Isolated from Six Soils in which Calcite was precipitated by Indigenous Bacteria, Geomicrobiology Journal, 29(4), 389-395.
  32. [32]  Montoya, B., Feng, K., and Shanahan, C. (2013), Bio mediated soil improvement utilized to strengthen coastal deposits, Proceedings of the 18$^{th}$ international conference on soil menchanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 18, 2565-2568.
  33. [33]  Muynck, W., Belie, N., and Verstraete, W. (2010), Microbial carbonate precipitation in construction materials: A Review, Ecology Engineering, 36(2), 118-136.
  34. [34]  Ng, S., Lee, L., and Hii, L. (2012), An overview of the factors affecting microbial-induced calcite precipitation and its potential application in soil improvement, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 6(2), 683-689.
  35. [35]  Navdeep, D., Sudhakara, M., and Abhijit, M. (2016), Significant indicators for biomineralization in the sand of varying grain sizes, Construction and Building Materials, 104, 198--207.
  36. [36]  Navdeep, D., Reddy, S., and Mukherjee, A. (2013), Biomineralization of calcium carbonates and their engineered Applications- A review, Frontiers Microbiology, 4, 1-13.
  37. [37]  Nemati, M. and Voordouw, G. (2003), Modification of porous media permeability, using calcium carbonate produced enzymatically in situ, Enzyme Microbial Technology, 33(5), 635-642.
  38. [38]  Okwadha, G. and Li, J. (2010), Optimum conditions for microbial carbonate precipitation, Chemosphere, 81(9), 1143-1148.
  39. [39]  Oliveira, P.J.V., Freitas, L.D., and Carmona, J.P. (2016), Effect of Soil Type on the Enzymatic Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Process Used for Soil Improvement, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, On line at https://ascelibrary.org/toc/jmcee7/29/4.
  40. [40]  Pakbaz, S. and Alipour, R. (2012), Influence of cement addition on the geotechnical properties of an Iranian clay, Journal of Applied Clay Sciences, 10, 67--68.
  41. [41]  Pakbaz, S. and Farzi, M. (2015), Comparison of the effect of mixing methods (Dry vs. Wet) On mechanical and hydraulic properties of treated soil with cement or lime, Journal of Applied Clay Sciences, 11, 105--106.
  42. [42]  Qabany, A., Mortensen, B., Martinez, B., Soga, K., and De Jong, J. (2011), Microbial carbonate precipitation correlation of S-wave velocity with calcite precipitation, Proceeding of Geofrontiers, Advances in Geotechnical Engineering, 211, 3993--4001.
  43. [43]  Qi, Z. and Chun, Q. (2017), Stabilization of sand particles by bio-cement based on CO$_{2}$ capture and utilization: Process, mechanical properties and microstructure, Construction and Building Materials, 133, 73--80.
  44. [44]  Qian, C., Qing, F., and Rui, X. (2010), Cementation of sand grains based on carbonate Precipitation induced by microorganism, 53(8), 2198--2206.
  45. [45]  Ravi, S., Christoper, B., and Michael, J. (2011), Relationship between shear wave velocity and stresses at failure for weakly cemented sands during drained triaxial compression, soils and foundations, 51, 761-771.
  46. [46]  Ramachandran, S., Ramakrishnan, V., and Bang, S. (2001), Remediation of concrete using micro-organisms, ACI Materials Journal, 98, 3-9.
  47. [47]  Rahim, S., Ghassem, H., Ehsan, N., and Niazi, A. (2017), Biological Stabilization of a Swelling Fine-Grained Soil: The Role of Microstructural Changes in the Shear Behavior, Iran Journal of Sci Technological Trans Civil Engineering, 41, 405--414.
  48. [48]  Salwa, T. (2011), Ureolytic bacteria and calcium carbonate formation as a mechanism of strength enhancement of Sand, Journal of Advanced Science Engineering Research, 1, 98-114.
  49. [49]  Wei, S., Cui, H., Jiang, Z., Liu, H., He, H., and Fang, N. (2015), Bio mineralization processes of Calcite induced by bacteria isolated from marine sediments, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 46(2), 455-464.
  50. [50]  Sungsik, P., Sun, C., and Hyun, N. (2014), Effect of Plant-Induced Calcite Precipitation on the Strength of Sand, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 26(8), 06014017.
  51. [51]  Stocks, S., Galinat, J., and Bang, S. (1999), Microbiological precipitation of CaCO$_{3}$, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 31(11), 1563--1571.
  52. [52]  Umar, M., Kassim, K.A., and Chiet, K.T.P. (2016), Biological process of soil improvement in civil engineering: A review, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 8(5), 767-774.
  53. [53]  Waechter, B., Gertsson, U., and Sundin, P. (1994), Prospects for Microbial Stabilization in Closed Liquid Hydroponic Cultures of Tomato, Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, 61, 381-383.
  54. [54]  Wani, K.S. and Mir, B.A. (2020), Unconfined compressive strength testing of bio-cemented weak soils: a comparative upscale laboratory testing. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 45, 8145-8157.
  55. [55]  Whiffin, S., Leon, A., Van, P., and Marien, P. (2007), Microbial Carbonate Precipitation as a Soil Improvement Technique, Geomicrobiology Journal, 24(5), 417-423.
  56. [56]  Zhong, L. and Islam, M. (2017), A new microbial plugging process and its impact on fracture remediation, Society of Petroleum Engineers, On line at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314777303.