Abstract
Cracks under loading and high permeability in marine conditions are the most common weakness in concrete. Several research have been carried out to make durable concrete structures having self-healing ability and less permeability but very few have considered the eco-friendly approach simultaneously. This work involves an attempt to improve the microstructural properties of concrete by injecting Bacillus cereus, a gram-positive calcite precipitating bacteria directly into the concrete mix as microbial culture. 100 mm cubical concrete specimens of two different strength criteria (25 MPa, 35 MPa), with and without microbial culture, were prepared and cured for various curing ages to test and analyze the effect of bacterial culture on concrete properties. An optimum optical culture density of 0.5 ± 0.1 was chosen in this form of study as it yielded maximum output in terms of calcite precipitation. 0:25 and 0:50 were the ratios of plain water to microbial culture for the preparation of bacterial concrete. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) measurement and water absorption capacity (WAC) tests were carried out on the specimens for eight different curing ages. UPV analysis showed that concrete specimens containing higher percentages of microbial culture possess higher pulse velocity than conventional concrete which is the effect of microstructural densification. 40% less permeable concrete genera were found by water absorption capacity test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the presence of higher mineral calcite precipitation in the microbial concrete microstructure than the conventional concrete. SEM also showed that with the increment of curing periods the CSH gel became well dispersed in the concrete matrix containing microbial culture. Considering all the test results, it can be concluded that the use of Bacillus cereus microbial culture in concrete mix develops better concrete genera than the conventional one. So, this technique refers to be an eco-friendly approach for developing a durable new-generation concrete in the near future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data supporting the results of this research work has been reported in the manuscript.
References
Abd Elhakam, A., Mohamed, A. E., & Awad, E. (2012). Influence of self-healing, mixing method and adding silica fume on mechanical properties of recycled aggregates concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 35, 421–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.013
Abo-El-Enein, S. A., Ali, A. H., Talkhan, F. N., & Abdel-Gawwad, H. A. (2013). Application of microbial biocementation to improve the physico-mechanical properties of cement mortar. HBRC Journal, 9(1), 36–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hbrcj.2012.10.004
Akindahunsi, A. A., Adeyemo, S. M., & Adeoye, A. (2021). The use of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) in improving the mechanical properties of concrete. Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation, 6(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-021-00112-7
Algaifi, H. A., Alqarni, A. S., Alyousef, R., Bakar, S. A., Ibrahim, M. H. W., Shahidan, S., Ibrahim, M., & Salami, B. A. (2021). Mathematical prediction of the compressive strength of bacterial concrete using gene expression programming. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 12(4), 3629–3639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.04.008
Al-Salloum, Y., Hadi, S., Abbas, H., Almusallam, T., & Moslem, M. A. (2017). Bio-induction and bioremediation of cementitious composites using microbial mineral precipitation–A review. Construction and Building Materials, 154, 857–876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.07.203
Althoey, F., Zaid, O., Arbili, M. M., Martínez-García, R., Alhamami, A., Shah, H. A., & Yosri Ahmed, M. (2023). Physical, strength, durability and microstructural analysis of self-healing concrete: a systematic review. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 18, e01730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01730
Andalib, R., Abd Majid, M. Z., Hussin, M. W., Ponraj, M., Keyvanfar, A., Mirza, J., & Lee, H.-S. (2016). Optimum concentration of Bacillus megaterium for strengthening structural concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 118, 180–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.142
Bandyopadhyay, A., Saha, A., Ghosh, D., Dam, B., Samanta, A. K., & Dutta, S. (2023). Microbial repairing of concrete & its role in CO2 sequestration: a critical review. In Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43088-023-00344-1
De Belie, N. (2016). Application of bacteria in concrete: a critical evaluation of the current status. RILEM Technical Letters, 1, 56–61. https://doi.org/10.21809/rilemtechlett.2016.14
De Belie, N., & Wang, J. (2016). Bacteria-based repair and self-healing of concrete. Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, 5(1–2), 35–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/21650373.2015.1077754
Dhami, N. K., Reddy, M. S., & Mukherjee, A. (2013). Bacillus megaterium mediated mineralization of calcium carbonate as biogenic surface treatment of green building materials. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 29(12), 2397–2406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-013-1408-z
Dinarvand, P., & Rashno, A. (2022). Review of the potential application of bacteria in self-healing and the improving properties of concrete/mortar. Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, 11(4), 250–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/21650373.2021.1936268
Jose, S, George VR, Rodrigues, A, John, J, Venu, D. (2018). A study on strength characteristics of bacterial concrete. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology. www.irjet.net
Kumar, J., Prabhakara, R., Pushpa, H. (2013). Effect of Bacterial Calcite Precipitation on Compressive Strength of Mortar Cubes. www.ijeat.org
Luhar, S., Luhar, I., & Shaikh, F. U. A. (2022). A review on the performance evaluation of autonomous self-healing bacterial concrete: mechanisms, strength, durability, and microstructural properties. In Journal of Composites Science, 6(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs6010023
Nath Priyom, S. (2018). An Experimental Investigation on the Performance of Bacterial Concrete. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329842409
Nosouhian, F., Mostofinejad, D., & Hasheminejad, H. (2016). Concrete durability improvement in a sulfate environment using bacteria. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001337
Olivier, JGJ, Peters, J. (2014). Trends in global CO2 emissions: 2013 report AQMEII and HTAP View project Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) View project. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277507390
. Oriola F, Morgan Adah Anebi JS, Anebi, MA. (2018). Evaluation of the effect of Bacillus Pumilus precipitate on the strength and durability of concrete (Vol. 10, Issue 7). Online. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327382363
Priyom, SN, Fahad, M, Zawad, S., Rahman, MA., Islam, MM. (n.d.). Microstructure analysis of microbial concrete: A comparative study use of recycled pumice powder as partial replacement of cement in normal-weight concrete view project bacterial concrete view project 6 PUBLICATIONS 12 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351563451
Rahman, MA., Fahad, M, Zawad, S., Priyom, SN., Islam, MM. (2023). Insight Into the Microstructural Properties of Bio-Engineered Concrete Matrices & Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2924941/v1
Raza, A., El Ouni, M. H., Khan, Q. Z., Azab, M., Khan, D., Elhadi, K. M., & Alashker, Y. (2023). Sustainability assessment, structural performance and challenges of self-healing bio-mineralized concrete: a systematic review for built environment applications. In Journal of Building Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2023.105839
Roig-Flores, M., Moscato, S., Serna, P., & Ferrara, L. (2015). Self-healing capability of concrete with crystalline admixtures in different environments. Construction and Building Materials, 86, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.091
Safiuddin, M., Raman, S. N., & Zain, M. F. M. (2007). Effect of different curing methods on the properties of microsilica concrete. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 1(2), 87–95.
Şahmaran, M., Yıldırım, G., Aras, G. H., Keskin, S. B., Keskin, Ö. K., & Lachemi, M. (2017). Self-healing of cementitious composites to reduce high CO2 emissions. ACI Materials Journal. https://doi.org/10.14359/51689484
Sahmaran, M., Yildirim, G., & Erdem, T. K. (2013). Self-healing capability of cementitious composites incorporating different supplementary cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Composites, 35(1), 89–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2012.08.013
Selvan, AT., Dharani, D. (2016). 6959. International Journal of Development Research.
Stutzman, PE. (2001). Workshop on the role of calcium hydroxide in concrete). In Proceedings. J. Skalny.
Suleiman, A. R., Nelson, A. J., & Nehdi, M. L. (2019). Visualization and quantification of crack self-healing in cement-based materials incorporating different minerals. Cement and Concrete Composites, 103, 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.04.026
Vijay, K., Murmu, M., & Deo, S. V. (2017). Bacteria based self healing concrete – A review. Construction and Building Materials, 152, 1008–1014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.07.040
Wang, J., Dewanckele, J., Cnudde, V., Van Vlierberghe, S., Verstraete, W., De Belie, N. (2014). X-ray computed tomography proof of bacterial-based self-healing in concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 53, 289–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.07.014
Yatish Reddy, P. V., Ramesh, B., & Prem Kumar, L. (2020). Influence of bacteria in self healing of concrete - a review. Materials Today: Proceedings, 33, 4212–4218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.07.233
Yazdani, N., Garcia, E. C., & Riad, M. (2018). Field assessment of concrete structures rehabilitated with FRP. Eco-Efficient Repair and Rehabilitation of Concrete Infrastructures. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102181-1.00008-3
Yıldırım, G., Khiavi, A. H., Yeşilmen, S., & Şahmaran, M. (2018). Self-healing performance of aged cementitious composites. Cement and Concrete Composites, 87, 172–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.01.004
Yoon, H., Yang, K., & Lee, S. (2019). Evaluation of sulfuric acid resistance of biomimetic coating mortars for concrete surface protection. Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute, 31(1), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.4334/JKCI.2019.31.1.061
Zawad, Md. F. S., Rahman, Md. A., & Priyom, S. N. (2021). Bio-engineered concrete: a critical review on the next generation of durable concrete. Journal of the Civil Engineering Forum, 7(3), 335. https://doi.org/10.22146/jcef.65317
Zhang, Y., Guo, H. X., & Cheng, X. H. (2015). Role of calcium sources in the strength and microstructure of microbial mortar. Construction and Building Materials, 77, 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.12.040
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the support and services provided by department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), department of Glass and Ceramic Engineering (GCE), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and department of Microbiology of University of Chittagong (CU) for their laboratory facilities and extended research association to complete this experimental research. The authors would like to thank the department head of Microbiology, University of Chittagong (CU) and the department head of Glass and Ceramic Engineering (GCE), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for their special consideration regarding financial concession to execute this research study in a convenient way.
Funding
The authors received no external funding for this research work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Conceptualization and methodology: MAR, MFSZ and MMI. Formal analysis, practical work, and investigation: MAR and MFSZ. Writing-original draft preparation: MAR and MFSZ. Writing-review and editing: MMI and SNP. Supervision: MMI.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this experimental research study.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Rahman, M.A., Zawad, M.F.S., Priyom, S.N. et al. Insight into the microstructural properties of bio-engineered concrete matrices and analysis by scanning electron microscopy. Asian J Civ Eng 25, 609–621 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-023-00798-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-023-00798-9