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Enhancing the Strength of Sandy Soil Through Enzyme-Induced Calcite Precipitation

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Abstract

Enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (EICP) is a biocementation technique that has the potential to improve the engineering properties of sand. The effectiveness of the EICP treatment was evaluated based on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests at various concentrations of cementation reagent (CCR) and curing periods. The treated sand was analysed for its calcium carbonate content and microstructural analysis using FESEM-EDX. The results showed an increase in unconfined compressive strength and calcium carbonate content at a higher concentration of cementation reagent. The UCS value and CaCO3 content of the treated samples are 161–552 kPa and 0.92–5.73%, respectively. There is a linear relationship between the UCS at various cementation reagent concentrations and the average calcium carbonate content.

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge with appreciation the support by Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education for providing the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (Grant no. 5F256). Similarity grant from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Grant no. 20H21) is greatly acknowledge. The first and third authors also appreciate scholarship granted by TETFUND Nigeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geotechnics and Transportation Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed, Khairul Anuar Kassim, Muttaqa U. Zango, Kamarudin Ahmad & Jodin Makinda

  2. Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria

    Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, P.M.B. 3244, Kano, Nigeria

    Muttaqa U. Zango

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  1. Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed
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  2. Khairul Anuar Kassim
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  3. Muttaqa U. Zango
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  4. Kamarudin Ahmad
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  5. Jodin Makinda
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Contributions

ASM conducted most of the experiment and wrote the manuscript. KAK reviewed and confirmed the final version of the manuscript. MUZ conducted part of the experiment and analysed the results. KA reviewed and edited the manuscript. JM conducted part of the analyses of the results.

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Correspondence to Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed.

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Muhammed, A.S., Kassim, K.A., Zango, M.U. et al. Enhancing the Strength of Sandy Soil Through Enzyme-Induced Calcite Precipitation. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 7, 45 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-021-00289-4

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