An experimental approach to microbial carbonate precipitation in improving the engineering properties of sandy soils


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BAĞRIAÇIK B., Sani Z. K., USLU F. M., Yigittekin E. S., DİNÇER S.

ANNALS OF MICROBIOLOGY, cilt.71, sa.1, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 71 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1186/s13213-021-01644-6
  • Dergi Adı: ANNALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Soil improvement, Bacillus sp, Time-dependent behaviour, Sustainability, Microbial carbonate precipitation, Sandy soil, IMPROVEMENT, UREASE
  • Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Purpose Stabilization of weak soil can be achieved through different methods, some of which include jet column, cement stabilization and fly ash stabilization. Unfortunately, the use of the aforementioned methods of soil improvement affects the environment negatively thereby leading to environmental degradation. With the aforesaid impediment in mind, the need for devising methods of weak soil improvement becomes pertinent. Methods Bacillus sp. - a non-pathogenic organism found abundantly in soil - was investigated in this study as a potential agent of soil improvement. The usability of Bacillus sp. in soil improvement was investigated with direct shear tests and permeability tests under optimum conditions in this study. Result Time-dependent study on the effect of the ureolytic bacteria Bacillus sp.-induced calcium carbonate precipitation shows reduction in permeability and increase in the strength of the soil under study. On exhaustion of the available nutrients in the soil, however, the strength of the soil is not negatively impacted. Conclusion Microbially induced calcium precipitation by Bacillus sp. is effective in soil improvement as such it may serve as substitute for conventional soil stabilization techniques. The ability of the bacteria to precipitate calcium carbonate in the soil leads to reduction in the permeability and increase in the shear strength of the soil.