Detecting Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in Porous Systems Using Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 4
Abstract
Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance has been shown to be sensitive to the chemical and physical changes in a porous medium caused by microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), confirming its potential for detection of MICP for subsurface engineering applications. This investigation used a 2-MHz rock core analyzer, measuring relaxation, in combination with scanning electron microscopy to characterize the daily chemical and physical changes occurring in various granular media including 1- and 0.5-mm soda lime glass beads and 1- and 0.45-mm quartz sand. An increase in time was observed in all of the granular media in accordance with MICP progression. An estimate of the surface relaxivity, , was obtained for the silica glass, quartz sand, and mineral precipitate, which allowed for correlation between mineral precipitation surface coverage and relaxation time. The results indicated the potential for detailed in situ MICP progress monitoring during the early stages of the process by portable low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) devices.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Grant Nos. DE-FE0024296 and DE-FE0026513. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Energy (DOE).
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 4 • April 2020
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©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: May 30, 2019
Accepted: Oct 29, 2019
Published online: Feb 14, 2020
Published in print: Apr 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jul 14, 2020
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