Factors Affecting Improvement in Engineering Properties of Residual Soil through Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 5
Abstract
Studies of soil improvement by microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) have focused primarily on fine sand. This paper explores the viability of the MICP technique for improving the engineering properties of a typical tropical residual soil. A species of Bacillus, B. megaterium, was used to trigger calcite precipitation. Four variables were considered in this study: the concentration of B. megaterium, the concentration of the cementation reagent, the treatment duration, and the flow pressure of the cementation reagent. The results show that the improvement in the engineering properties of the MICP-treated residual soils is comparable to those of treated fine sands. The preferable treatment conditions for the soil studied are B. megaterium concentration of , cementation reagent concentration of 0.5 M, flow pressure of 1.1 bar of the cementation reagent, and treatment duration of 48 h. Using this combination of parameters, the obtained shear strength increase and hydraulic conductivity reduction are 69 and 90%, respectively. A minimum calcite content of 1.0% () is required to provide measurable improvement in the engineering properties of the soil.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This project is funded by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Malaysia, under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS).
References
Al Qabany, A., Mortensen, B., Martinez, B., Soga, K., and DeJong, J. (2011). “Microbial carbonate precipitation correlation of S-wave velocity with calcite precipitation.” Geo-Frontiers 2011, ASCE, Reston, VA, 3993–4001.
Al Qabany, A., Soga, K., and Santamarina, C. (2012). “Factors affecting efficiency of microbially induced calcite precipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 992–1001.
American Public Health Association/American Water Works Association/Water Environment Federation (APHA/AWWA/WEF). (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, Washington, DC.
Arunachalam, K. D., Sathyanarayanan, K. S., Darshan, B. S., and Raja, R. B. (2010). “Studies on the characterisation of Biosealant properties of Bacillus sphaericus.” Int. J. Eng. Sci. Technol., 2(3), 270–277.
ASTM. (2006). “Standard test method for unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil.” D2166-06, West Conshohocken, PA.
Bachmeier, K. L., Williams, A. E., Warmington, J. R., and Bang, S. S. (2002). “Urease activity in microbiologically-induced calcite precipitation.” J. Biotechnol., 93(2), 171–181.
Cacchio, P., Ercole, C., Cappuccio, G., and Lepidi, A. (2003). “Calcium carbonate precipitation by bacterial strains isolated from a limestone cave and from a loamy soil.” Geomicrobiol. J., 20(2), 85–98.
Chou, C. W., Seagren, E. A., Aydilek, A. H., and Lai, M. (2011). “Biocalcification of sand through ureolysis.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1179–1189.
Ciurli, S., Marzadori, C., Benini, S., Deiana, S., and Gessa, C. (1996). “Urease from the soil bacterium Bacillus pasteurii: Immobilization on Ca-polygalacturonate.” Soil Biol. Biochem., 28(6), 811–817.
Cizer, O., van Balen, K., Elsen, J., and van Gemert, D. (2008). “Crystal morphology of precipitated calcite crystals from accelerated carbonation of lime binders.” Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Accelerated Carbonation for Environmental and Materials Engineering (ACEME08), Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Rome, 149–158.
DeJong, J. T., et al. (2013). “Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: progress, opportunities, and challenges.” Geotechnique, 63(4), 287–301.
DeJong, J. T., Fritzges, M. B., and Nüsslein, K. (2006). “Microbially induced cementation to control sand response to undrained shear.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1381–1392.
DeJong, J. T., Mortensen, B. M., Martinez, B. C., and Nelson, D. C. (2010). “Bio-mediated soil improvement.” Ecol. Eng., 36(2), 197–210.
De Muynck, W., Verbeken, K., De Belie, N., and Verstraete, W. (2010). “Influence of urea and calcium dosage on the effectiveness of bacterially induced carbonate precipitation on limestone.” Ecol. Eng., 36(2), 99–111.
Dupraz, S., Parmentier, M., Ménez, B., and Guyot, F. (2009). “Experimental and numerical modeling of bacterially induced pH increase and calcite precipitation in saline aquifers.” Chem. Geol., 265(1-2), 44–53.
Ferris, F. G., Phoenix, V., Fujita, Y., and Smith, R. W. (2004). “Kinetics of calcite precipitation induced by ureolytic bacteria at 10 to 20°C in artificial groundwater.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 68(8), 1701–1710.
Fujita, Y., Ferris, F. G., Lawson, R. D., Colwell, F. S., and Smith, R. W. (2000). “Calcium carbonate precipitation by ureolytic subsurface bacteria.” Geomicrobiol. J., 17(4), 305–318.
Fujita, Y., Redden, G. D., Ingram, J. C., Cortez, M. M., Ferris, F. G., and Smith, R. W. (2004). “Strontium incorporation into calcite generated by bacterial ureolysis.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 68(15), 3261–3270.
Hamdan, N., Kavazanjian, E. J., Rittmann, B. E., and Karatas, I. (2011). “Carbonate mineral precipitation for soil improvement through microbial denitrification.” Geo-Frontiers 2011, ASCE, Reston, VA, 3925–3934.
Hammes, F., Boon, N., de Villiers, J., Verstraete, W., and Siciliano, S. D. (2003). “Strain-specific ureolytic microbial calcium carbonate precipitation.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 69(8), 4901–4909.
Hammes, F., and Verstraete, W. (2002). “Key roles of pH and calcium metabolism in microbial carbonate precipitation.” Rev. Environ. Sci. Biotechnol., 1(1), 3–7.
Harkes, M. P., van Paassen, L. A., Booster, J. L., Whiffin, V. S., and van Loosdrecht, M. C. M. (2010). “Fixation and distribution of bacterial activity in sand to induce carbonate precipitation for ground reinforcement.” Ecol. Eng., 36(2), 112–117.
Ivanov, V., and Chu, J. (2008). “Applications of microorganisms to geotechnical engineering for bioclogging and biocementation of soil in situ.” Rev. Environ. Sci. Biotechnol., 7(2), 139–153.
Kaltwasser, H., Krämer, J., and Conger, W. R. (1972). “Control of urease formation in certain aerobic bacteria.” Arch. Microbiol., 81(2), 178–196.
Karol, R. H. (2003). Chemical grouting and soil stabilization, Dekker, New York.
Khan, J. A. (2011). “Biodegradation of azo dye by moderately halotolerant Bacillus megaterium and study of enzyme azoreductase involved in degradation.” Adv. Biotech., 10(7), 21–27.
Kile, D. E., Eberl, D. D., Hoch, A. R., and Reddy, M. M. (2000). “An assessment of calcite crystal growth mechanisms based on crystal size distributions.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 64(17), 2937–2950.
Kunst, F., and Rapoport, G. (1995). “Salt stress is an environmental signal affecting degradative enzyme synthesis in Bacillus subtilis.” J. Bacteriol., 177(9), 2403–2407.
Lian, B., Hu, Q., Chen, J., Ji, J., and Teng, H. (2006). “Carbonate biomineralization induced by soil bacterium Bacillus megaterium.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 70(22), 5522–5535.
Lloyd, A. B., and Sheaffe, M. J. (1973). “Urease activity in soils.” Plant Soil, 39(1), 71–80.
Lu, W., Qian, C., and Wang, R. (2010). “Study on soil solidification based on microbiological precipitation of .” Sci. China Technol. Sci., 53(9), 2372–2377.
Maier, R. M., Pepper, I. L., and Gerba, C. P. (2009). Environmental microbiology, Elsevier Science, San Diego.
Martinez, B. C., Barkouki, T. H., DeJong, J. D., and Ginn, T. R. (2011). “Upscaling of microbial induced calcite precipitation in 0.5m columns experimental and modeling results.” Geo-Frontiers 2011, ASCE, Reston, VA, 4049–4059.
Mitchell, J. K., and Santamarina, J. C. (2005). “Biological considerations in geotechnical engineering.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1222–1233.
Mobley, H. L., Island, M. D., and Hausinger, R. P. (1995). “Molecular biology of microbial ureases.” Microbiol. Rev., 59(3), 451–480.
Mortensen, B. M., Haber, M., DeJong, J. T., Caslake, L. F., and Nelson, D. C. (2011). “Effects of environmental factors on microbial induced calcite precipitation.” Appl. Microbiol., 111(2), 338–349.
Naeini, S. A., and Jahanfar, M. A. (2011). “Effect of salt solution and plasticity index on undrained shear strength of clays.” Proc., Winter Int. Conf. of the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Vol. 49, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET), Dodoma, Tanzania, 982–986.
Nekolny, D., and Chaloupka, J. (2000). “Protein catabolism in growing Bacillus megaterium during adaptation to salt stress.” FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 184(2), 173–177.
Nemati, M., Greene, E. A., and Voordouw, G. (2005). “Permeability profile modification using bacterially formed calcium carbonate: Comparison with enzymic option.” Process Biochem., 40(2), 925–933.
Ng, W. S., Lee, M. L., Tan, C. K., and Hii, S. L. (2013). “Improvements in engineering properties of soils through microbial-induced calcite precipitation.” KSCE J. Civ. Eng., 17(4), 718–728.
Okwadha, G. D., and Li, J. (2010). “Optimum conditions for microbial carbonate precipitation.” Chemosphere, 81(9), 1143–1148.
Rebata-Landa, V. (2007). “Microbial activity in sediments: Effects on soil behaviour.” Ph.D. thesis, Georgia Institution of Technology, Atlanta.
Rebata-Landa, V., and Santamarina, J. C. (2006). “Mechanical limits to microbial activity in deep sediments.” Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 7(11), Q11006.
Stocks-Fischer, S., Galinat, J. K., and Bang, S. S. (1999). “Microbiological precipitation of .” Soil Biol. Biochem., 31(11), 1563–1571.
Valdes, J. R., and Santamarina, J. C. (2006). “Particle clogging in radial flow: Microscale mechanisms.” SPE J., 11(2), 193–198.
van Paassen, L. A. (2009). “Biogrout, ground improvement by microbial induced carbonate precipitation.” Ph.D. thesis, Delft Univ. of Technology, Delft, Netherlands.
van Paassen, L. A. (2011). “Bio-mediated ground improvement: From laboratory experiment to pilot applications.” Geo-Frontiers 2011, ASCE, Reston, VA, 4099–4108.
van Paassen, L. A., Daza, C. M., Staal, M., Sorokin, D. Y., van der Zon, W., and van Loosdrecht, M. C. M. (2010). “Potential soil reinforcement by biological denitrification.” Ecol. Eng., 36(2), 168–175.
Vary, P. S. (1994). “Prime time for Bacillus megaterium.” Microbiology, 140(5), 1001–1013.
Weil, M. H., DeJong, J. T., Martinez, B. C., Mortensen, B. M., and Waller, J. T. (2012). “Seismic and resistivity measurements for real-time monitoring of microbially induced calcite precipitation in sand.” Geotech. Test. J., 35(2), 330–341.
Whiffin, V. S. (2004). “Microbial precipitation for the production of biocement.” Ph.D. dissertation, Murdoch Univ., Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Whiffin, V. S., van Paassen, L. A., and Harkes, M. P. (2007). “Microbial carbonate precipitation as a soil improvement technique.” Geomicrobiol. J., 24(5), 417–423.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 5 • May 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 1, 2012
Accepted: Dec 17, 2013
Published online: Jan 13, 2014
Published in print: May 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Jun 13, 2014
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.