Potential of a Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation Process for Durability Enhancement of Masonry Aggregate Concrete
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 5
Abstract
In recent times microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has emerged in the cement and concrete industry as a pioneering approach to enhance concrete properties. This research was carried out with the intention to study the changed characteristics of masonry concrete, casted using brick aggregates modified by MICP. Biodeposition of on treated brick surfaces were detected via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and analyzed through quantification of calcium carbonate. Absorption tests and mercury porosimetry tests were carried out to determine the changed brick characteristics. Finally, durability parameters of modified brick aggregate-concrete were determined through sorptivity test, rapid migration test (RMT), and compressive strength test. Experiments conducted on brick aggregates reveal that MICP methods were successfully executed leading to precipitation. Furthermore, the modified-brick-aggregate-concrete exhibited increased compressive strength and significantly decreased permeability when compared to control specimens with untreated brick aggregate.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are very much obliged to the Department of Civil Engineering for funding their rapid migration test setup. Furthermore, the authors would like to acknowledge the lab instructors and assistants of the Concrete Lab and the Environment Lab. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were carried out at the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and the Department of Glass and Ceramic Engineering, respectively. The authors are also thankful to the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering for the use of the mercury porosimeter.
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 5 • May 2017
Copyright
©2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 11, 2016
Accepted: Aug 25, 2016
Published online: Nov 28, 2016
Discussion open until: Apr 28, 2017
Published in print: May 1, 2017
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