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State-of-the-art on geotechnical engineering perspective on bio-mediated processes

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Abstract

Geotechnical engineering has primarily focused on the mechanical and physical aspects of geomaterials (both naturally occurring and anthropogenic) by, to a certain extent, ignoring the effect of various bio-activities (by plants and microorganisms) impinging on them. However, in recent years, researchers have investigated ‘bio-mediated soil improvement techniques’ such as bio-cementation, bio-clogging, bio-remediation and phytoremediation. Further, the studies from geo-microbiology and hydrometallurgy perspectives demonstrate that microbial activities in geoenvironment might result in its degradation, mineral deposition and mineralogical alteration, and hence influence of these activities on geomaterials should be understood, and investigated, in detail. With this in view, a review of the processes induced/influenced by various biological activities that might impact the geomaterials and their performance, from the geotechnical engineering point of view, has been reported in this manuscript. Furthermore, a need for revamping the conventional geotechnical engineering practices by assimilating the concepts of bio-activities occurring in geomaterials has been discussed, and the challenges and a way forward to incorporate them have also been presented.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Mr. Kannan K. R. Iyer, formerly research scholar, IIT Bombay and Dr. Charles W. Knapp, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde for assisting in interpreting the Cryo FEG-SEM micrographs. The authors also thank the Cryo FEG-SEM of IRCC Central Facility, IIT Bombay for providing their services and assistance in imaging the soil samples. The study was funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (Grant No. IDP/IND/2012/12).

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    B. S. Shashank, Susmita Sharma, S. Sowmya, R. Asha Latha, P. S. Meenu & D. N. Singh

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  1. B. S. Shashank
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  2. Susmita Sharma
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Correspondence to D. N. Singh.

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All the authors are associated with Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The study was funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of 548 India (Grant No. IDP/IND/2012/12).

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Shashank, B.S., Sharma, S., Sowmya, S. et al. State-of-the-art on geotechnical engineering perspective on bio-mediated processes. Environ Earth Sci 75, 270 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5071-6

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