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Role of biocementation to improve mechanical properties of mortar

Sādhanā volume 44, Article number: 50 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Biocementation or Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICCP) is a naturally occurring green technique which involves the deposition of calcium carbonate by peculiar action of ureolytic bacteria, which improves the mechanical properties of cementitious materials. These bacteria require a protein source, a vitamin source and a carbon source for optimum growth. Urea and calcium source are necessary to carry out the ureolysis reaction to get CaCO3 depositions which fill the voids within the cementitious materials thereby improving their mechanical properties. To make the process economical, it is necessary to find out optimum concentrations of the various chemicals and ingredients used in the process. Present study aims at finding out the best possible combination of urea and protein source to carry out the MICCP process successfully. There was 22.44% increase in compressive strength and 16.62% reduction in the water absorption of experimental mortar cubes at 28 days of curing with the optimum combination of urea and protein source concentrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, 440010, India

    Snigdha P Bhutange & M V Latkar

  2. Nagpur, India

    T Chakrabarti

Authors
  1. Snigdha P Bhutange
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  2. M V Latkar
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  3. T Chakrabarti
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Correspondence to Snigdha P Bhutange.

Additional information

T. Chakrabarti: Formerly MPCB, Civil Engineering Department, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, 440010, India

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Bhutange, S.P., Latkar, M.V. & Chakrabarti, T. Role of biocementation to improve mechanical properties of mortar. Sādhanā 44, 50 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-018-1023-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-018-1023-7

Keywords

  • Biocementation
  • MICCP
  • calcium carbonate
  • ureolysis