Effect of Immobilized Bacteria in Diatomaceous Earth and Reused Concrete Aggregate in Recovering Properties of Self-Healing Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 1
Abstract
The development of microcracks in recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) directly impacts its durability; hence, these cracks need to be treated. The authors propose bacterial self-healing by introducing Bacillus megaterium strains into 50% and 100% RAC mixes to heal cracks in RAC on their own. A protective bacterial carrier is needed to protect the bacteria in the high-pH environment of concrete and in a dense microstructure so that the production capacity of the bacteria is not affected. For this purpose, diatomaceous earth (DE) and reused concrete aggregate (RCA) were investigated in this study as potential carriers for the immobilization of bacterial spores that heal cracks in RAC on their own. Filling of surface cracks, the self-healing ratio within concrete, recovery of compressive strength, and water impermeability were examined to test self-healing, and were compared with those of samples containing directly inserted bacteria. Cracks with a maximum width of 0.47, 0.50, and 0.55 mm were completely filled in the specimens containing directly inserted bacteria, immobilized bacteria in RCA, and immobilized bacteria in DE, respectively. Specimens containing bacteria immobilized in DE and RCA had better self-healing performance in terms of recovery of concrete properties and self-healing ratio within concrete than did specimens containing bacteria directly added. Additionally, specimens containing bacteria immobilized in DE exhibited better self-healing results in precracked specimens up to 56 days of age, whereas self-healing by bacteria immobilized in RCA was found to be more effective in precracked specimens at 120 days of age. Overall, it was concluded that DE and RCA can be used as carriers for bacterial immobilization in self-healing RAC, which would not only maintain the durability of RAC but also increase its service life.
Practical Applications
Biobased self-healing in recycled aggregate concrete offers practical applications in the construction industry. This innovative technology incorporates biobased materials such as bacteria and encapsulated healing agents into the concrete mix, allowing for autonomous healing of cracks and damage. The use of recycled aggregates further enhances the sustainability of the concrete, reducing the environmental impact. The self-healing mechanism operates by activating the bacteria and releasing the healing agents upon crack formation, which then react with the surrounding environment to seal the cracks. This self-healing capability extends the lifespan of concrete structures, reducing the need for costly repairs and maintenance. Additionally, the biobased nature of this approach aligns with sustainable development goals, promoting the use of renewable resources and reducing reliance on traditional repair methods that involve energy-intensive processes and nonrenewable materials. The practical application of biobased self-healing in recycled aggregate concrete demonstrates the potential for more-durable and eco-friendly construction practices.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank University Grant Commission (UGC) for the financial aid in carrying out this research work.
References
Abbas, A., G. Fathifazl, O. B. Isgor, A. G. Razaqpur, B. Fournier, and S. Foo. 2009. “Durability of recycled aggregate concrete designed with equivalent mortar volume method.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 31 (8): 555–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.02.012.
Algaifi, H. A., S. Abu Bakar, A. R. M. Sam, M. Ismail, A. R. Zainal Abidin, S. Shahir, and W. A. H. Altowayti. 2020. “Insight into the role of microbial calcium carbonate and the factors involved in self-healing concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 254 (Sep): 119258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119258.
Andalib, R., M. Z. Abd Majid, M. W. Hussin, M. Ponraj, A. Keyvanfar, J. Mirza, and H.-S. Lee. 2016. “Optimum concentration of Bacillus megaterium for strengthening structural concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 118 (Aug): 180–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.142.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). 1959. Methods of sampling and analysis of concrete. IS 1199: 1959. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). 1965. Method of test for permeability of cement mortar and concrete. IS 3085: 1965. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). 2004. Method of tests for strength of concrete. IS 516: 1959. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). 2009. Guidelines for concrete mix design proportioning. IS 10262: 2009. New Delhi, India: BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). 2013. Specification for 43 grade ordinary portland cement. IS 8112: 2013. New Delhi, India: BIS.
Chahal, N., and R. Siddique. 2013. “Permeation properties of concrete made with fly ash and silica fume: Influence of ureolytic bacteria.” Constr. Build. Mater. 49 (Dec): 161–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.08.023.
Chahal, N., R. Siddique, and A. Rajor. 2012. “Influence of bacteria on the compressive strength, water absorption and rapid chloride permeability of concrete incorporating silica fume.” Constr. Build. Mater. 37 (Dec): 645–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.07.029.
De Muynck, W., K. Verbeken, N. De Belie, and W. Verstraete. 2010. “Influence of urea and calcium dosage on the effectiveness of bacterially induced carbonate precipitation on limestone.” Ecol. Eng. 36 (2): 99–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.03.025.
Dimitriou, G., P. Savva, and M. F. Petrou. 2018. “Enhancing mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 158 (Jan): 228–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.09.137.
Edvardsen, C. 1999. “Water permeability and autogenous healing of cracks in concrete.” ACI Mater. J. 96 (Mar): 448–454. https://doi.org/10.14359/645.
Ersan, Y. C., E. Hernandez-Sanabria, N. Boon, and N. De Belie. 2016a. “Enhanced crack closure performance of microbial mortar through nitrate reduction.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 70 (Jul): 159–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2016.04.001.
Ersan, Y. C., H. Verbruggen, I. De Graeve, W. Verstraete, N. De Belie, and N. Boon. 2016b. “Nitrate reducing precipitating bacteria survive in mortar and inhibit steel corrosion.” Cem. Concr. Res. 83 (May): 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.01.009.
Feng, J., Y. Su, and C. Qian. 2019. “Coupled effect of PP fiber, PVA fiber and bacteria on self-healing efficiency of early-age cracks in concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 228 (Dec): 116810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116810.
Feng, Y., K. D. Racke, and J.-M. Bollag. 1997. “Use of immobilized bacteria to treat industrial wastewater containing a chlorinated pyridinol.” Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 47 (1): 73–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050891.
Ivanov, V. M., V. N. Figurovskaya, Y. A. Barbalat, and N. I. Ershova. 2005. “Chromaticity characteristics of and : Molecular iodine as a test form alternative to Nessler’s reagent.” J. Anal. Chem. 60 (Jul): 707–710.
Jonkers, H. M., A. Thijssen, G. Muyzer, O. Copuroglu, and E. Schlangen. 2010. “Application of bacteria as self-healing agent for the development of sustainable concrete.” Ecol. Eng. 36 (2): 230–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2008.12.036.
Khaliq, W., and M. B. Ehsan. 2016. “Crack healing in concrete using various bio influenced self-healing techniques.” Constr. Build. Mater. 102 (Jan): 349–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.11.006.
Khushnood, R. A., Z. A. Qureshi, N. Shaheen, and S. Ali. 2020. “Bio-mineralized self-healing recycled aggregate concrete for sustainable infrastructure.” Sci. Total Environ. 703 (Feb): 135007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135007.
Kou, S.-C., C.-S. Poon, and F. Agrela. 2011. “Comparisons of natural and recycled aggregate concretes prepared with the addition of different mineral admixtures.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 33 (8): 788–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2011.05.009.
Krishnapriya, S. 2016. “Enhancement of strength and durability of concrete by bacterial calcite precipitation.” Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Anna Univ.
Kua, H. W., S. Gupta, A. N. Aday, and W. V. Srubar III. 2019. “Biochar-immobilized bacteria and superabsorbent polymers enable self-healing of fiber-reinforced concrete after multiple damage cycles.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 100 (Jul): 35–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.03.017.
Luo, M., C.-X. Qian, and R.-Y. Li. 2015. “Factors affecting crack repairing capacity of bacteria-based self-healing concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 87 (Jul): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.117.
Qian, C., J. Wang, R. Wang, and L. Cheng. 2009. “Corrosion protection of cement-based building materials by surface deposition of by Bacillus pasteurii.” Mater. Sci. Eng., C 29 (4): 1273–1280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2008.11.004.
Rais, M. S., and R. A. Khan. 2020. “Strength and durability characteristics of binary blended recycled coarse aggregate concrete containing microsilica and metakaolin.” Innovative Infrastruct. Solutions 5 (Dec): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-020-00365-0.
Rais, M. S., and R. A. Khan. 2021. “Effect of biomineralization technique on the strength and durability characteristics of recycled aggregate concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 290 (Jul): 123280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123280.
Rauf, M., W. Khaliq, R. A. Khushnood, and I. Ahmed. 2020. “Comparative performance of different bacteria immobilized in natural fibers for self-healing in concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 258 (Oct): 119578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119578.
Singh, H., and R. Gupta. 2020. “Cellulose fiber as bacteria-carrier in mortar: Self-healing quantification using UPV.” J. Build. Eng. 28 (Mar): 101090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.101090.
Tziviloglou, E., V. Wiktor, H. M. Jonkers, and E. Schlangen. 2016. “Bacteria-based self-healing concrete to increase liquid tightness of cracks.” Constr. Build. Mater. 122 (Sep): 118–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.06.080.
Wang, J., K. Van Tittelboom, N. De Belie, and W. Verstraete. 2012a. “Use of silica gel or polyurethane immobilized bacteria for self-healing concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 26 (1): 532–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.054.
Wang, J. Y., N. De Belie, and W. Verstraete. 2012b. “Diatomaceous earth as a protective vehicle for bacteria applied for self-healing concrete.” J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 39 (4): 67–577. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-011-1037-1.
Wang, J. Y., H. Soens, W. Verstraete, and N. De Belie. 2014. “Cement and concrete research self-healing concrete by use of microencapsulated bacterial spores.” Cem. Concr. Res. 56 (Feb): 139–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.11.009.
Wu, M., X. Hu, Q. Zhang, D. Xue, and Y. Zhao. 2019. “Growth environment optimization for inducing bacterial mineralization and its application in concrete healing.” Constr. Build. Mater. 209 (Jun): 631–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.181.
Zhang, H., T. Ji, and H. Liu. 2020. “Performance evolution of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) exposed to external sulfate attacks under full-soaking and dry-wet cycling conditions.” Constr. Build. Mater. 248 (Jun): 118675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118675.
Zhang, J., Y. Liu, T. Feng, M. Zhou, L. Zhao, A. Zhou, and Z. Li. 2017. “Immobilizing bacteria in expanded perlite for the crack self-healing in concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 148 (Sep): 610–617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.05.021.
Zhong, W., and W. Yao. 2008. “Influence of damage degree on self-healing of concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 22 (6): 1137–1142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.02.006.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 21, 2022
Accepted: Jun 8, 2023
Published online: Oct 26, 2023
Published in print: Jan 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Mar 26, 2024
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.