Large-Scale Comparison of Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation Approaches for Biocementation of Sands
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 5
Abstract
Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a promising biocementation process that can improve the geotechnical properties of granular soils through the precipitation of calcite. In this study, a large-scale biocementation experiment was completed to evaluate differences in improvement obtained using a bioaugmentation approach with S. pasteurii and a biostimulation approach, which stimulated native ureolytic microorganisms to complete the process. Two identical 1.7-m-diameter soil tank specimens containing a 0.3-m-thick layer of sand were treated using three wells at a well-to-well spacing of 1.2 m. Treatments were applied daily over 12 days and were designed to evaluate differences between tanks by creating a nonuniform spatial distribution of improvement. During treatment, shear wave velocity and biogeochemical changes were monitored spatially and temporally. Post-treatment, cone penetration tests were completed to assess improvement, and samples were obtained for calcite content measurements. Similar final improvement was observed between tanks, with highly cemented regions achieving shear wave velocities over and increases in tip resistances of over 419%. Results suggest that biostimulation may enable comparable biocementation improvement at the meter scale.
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Acknowledgments
Funding from the National Science Foundation (CMMI-1234367) is appreciated. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation grant CMMI-1234367 and the Engineering Research Center Program of the National Science Foundation under NSF Cooperative Agreement No. EEC-1449501. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors would like to thank Tamir Kamai, Jason Wong, Matthew Havey, Steve Purugganan, Bill Sluis, and Daret Kehlet for their assistance throughout the duration of the project. Sand material provided by Teichert Aggregates is appreciated.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 5 • May 2017
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©2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 23, 2016
Accepted: Aug 29, 2016
Published online: Nov 30, 2016
Discussion open until: Apr 30, 2017
Published in print: May 1, 2017
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