Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biological processes in the stabilization of weak river sediments: an innovative approach

  • Technical paper
  • Published:
Innovative Infrastructure Solutions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present circumstances when available sites for construction are very limited owing to rapid industrialization and population explosion, biologically induced ground improvement methods are gaining worldwide attention as they are eco-friendly and cause no damage to the surroundings. This paper presents an innovative approach featuring laboratory-scale testing, on the effectiveness of bacteria in stabilizing weak river sediments. Effectiveness of this bio-stabilization technique was established by a series of laboratory tests like unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio tests (CBR). Two different bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (B.S) and Bacillus megaterium (B.M), were used in this study at an optical density of 2.0, and a bio-augmentation approach was adopted. Treatment was given under controlled conditions, and an enhancement in the UCS values for both bacteria was noted in contrast to the control specimen. Two different treatment approaches were adopted for UCS samples, viz. treatment in fabricated brass moulds and full contact flexible moulds (FCFM) made of non-woven geo-textiles. The increase in UCS for 0.5 molar cementation solution concentration from 197 to 544 and 637 kPa for B.S and B.M treatment, respectively, in fabricated brass moulds and 197–603 and 674 kPa for B.S and B.M, respectively, in FCFMs was appreciable along with a CBR enhancement from 6 to 15% and 2–10% for B.M treatment in unsoaked and soaked conditions, respectively. Curing effect on UCS samples (0, 3 and 7 days) was also studied. The experimental results were in turn supported by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All associated data can be made available on request from the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

UCS:

Unconfined compressive strength

CBR:

California bearing ratio

B.S :

Bacillus subtilis

B.M :

Bacillus megaterium

O.D:

Optical density

FCFM:

Full contact flexible mould

CSM:

Cementing solution molarity

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

MICP:

Microbially induced calcite precipitation

CS:

Cementing solution

PSD:

Particle size distribution

LB:

Lysogeny broth

DST:

Direct shear test

GSM:

Gram square metre

AOS:

Apparent opening size

References

  1. Ibragimov MN (2015) Design and implementation of soil stabilization by grout injection using hydrofracking technology. Soil Mech Found Eng 52(2):100–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gharib M et al (2019) Influence of chitin nanofiber and rice husk ash on properties and bearing resistance of soft clay soils. Int J Eng 32(3):373–380

    Google Scholar 

  3. Toufigh V, Rahmannejad M (2018) Influence of curing time and water content on unconfined compressive strength of sand stabilized using epoxy resin. Int J Eng 31(8):1187–1195

    Google Scholar 

  4. Manimaran A, Seenu S, Ravichandran PT (2019) Stimulation behaviour study on clay treated with ground granulated blast slag and groundnutshell ash. Int J Eng 32(5):673–678

    Google Scholar 

  5. Humphreys K, Mahasenan M (2002) Toward a sustainable cement industry. Substudy 8, Climate change. World Business Council for Sustainable Development 2

  6. Hendriks CA, Worrell E, De Jager D, Blok K, Riemer P (1998) Emission reduction of greenhouse gases from the cement industry. In: Proceedings of the fourth international conference on greenhouse gas control technologies. Interlaken, Austria, IEA GHG R&D Programme, pp 939–944

  7. National Research Council (2006) Geological and geotechnical engineering in the new millennium: opportunities for research and technological innovation. National Academies Press

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hoyos LR, DeJong JT, McCartney JS, Puppala AJ, Reddy KR, Zekkos D (2015) Environmental geotechnics in the U.S. Region: a brief overview. Environm Geotech 2(EG6):319–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. DeJong JT, Mortensen B, Martinez M, Nelson DC (2010) Bio-mediated soil improvement. Ecol Eng 36(2):197–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gomez MG, Anderson CM, Graddy CM, DeJong JT, Nelson DC, Ginn TR (2017) Large-scale comparison of bioaugmentation and biostimulation approaches for biocementation of sands. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 143(5):04016124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Inavov V, Chu J (2008) Applications of microorganisms to geotechnical engineering. Environ Sci Biotechnol 7:139–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Van Paassen LA, Daza CM, Staal M, Sorokin DY, van der Zon W, van Loosdrecht MCM (2010) Potential soil reinforcement by biological denitrification. Ecol Eng 36(2):168–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hamdan N, KavazanjianJr E, Rittmann BE, Karatas I (2017) Carbonate mineral precipitation for soil improvement through microbial denitrification. Geomicrobiol J 34(2):139–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Roden EE, Leonardo MR, Grant Ferris F (2002) Immobilization of strontium during iron biomineralization coupled to dissimilatory hydrous ferric oxide reduction. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66(16):2823–2839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Warthmann R, Van Lith Y, Vasconcelos C, McKenzie JA, Karpoff AM (2000) Bacterially induced dolomite precipitation in anoxic culture experiments. Geology 28(12):1091–1094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ivanov V, Chu J, Stabnikov V, Li B (2015) Strengthening of soft marine clay using bioencapsulation. Mar Georesour Geotechnol 33(4):320–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Tian Z-F, Tang X, Xiu Z-L, Xue Z-J (2019) Effect of different biological solutions on microbially induced carbonate precipitation and reinforcement of sand. Mar Georesour Geotechnol 38:450–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Reddy MS (2013) Biomineralization of calcium carbonates and their engineered applications: a review. Front Microbiol 29(4):314

    Google Scholar 

  19. Al-Thawadi SM (2011) Ureolytic bacteria and calcium carbonate formation as a mechanism of strength enhancement of sand. J Adv Sci Eng Res 1(1):98–114

    Google Scholar 

  20. Phadnis HS, Santamarina JC (2011) Bacteria in sediments: pore size effects. Geotech Lett 1(4):91–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ng W-S, Lee M-L, Hii S-L (2012) An overview of the factors affecting microbial-induced calcite precipitation and its potential application in soil improvement. World Acad Sci Eng Technol 62(2):723–729

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lee ML, Ng WS, Tanaka Y (2013) Stress-deformation and compressibility responses of bio-mediated residual soils. Ecol Eng 60:142–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Min Le L (2015) Bio-mediated soil: a sustainable ground improvement technique. JurnalGeoteknik, [S.l.], vol 9, no 1, May 2015. ISSN 0853-4810

  24. Soon NW, Lee LM, Khun TC, Ling H (2014) Factors affecting improvement in engineering properties of residual soil through microbial-induced calcite precipitation. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 140(5):04014006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sharma A, Ramkrishnan R (2016) Study on effect of microbial induced calcite precipitates on strength of fine grained soils. Perspect Sci 8:198–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang Z, Zhang N, Cai G, Jin Y, Ding N, Shen D (2017) Review of ground improvement using microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP). Mar Georesour Geotechnol 35(8):1135–1146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Mujah D, Cheng L, Shahin MA (2019) Microstructural and geomechanical study on biocemented sand for optimization of MICP process. J Mater Civ Eng 31(4):04019025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zamani A, Montoya BM (2017) Shearing and hydraulic behavior of MICP treated silty sand. In: Geotechnical Frontiers 2017 (Orlando, Florida). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784480489.029

  29. Song C, Elsworth D, Zhi S, Wang C (2019) The influence of particle morphology on microbially induced CaCO3 clogging in granular media. Mar Georesour Geotechnol 39:74–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Al-Thawadi SM (2013) Consolidation of sand particles by aggregates of calcite nanoparticles synthesized by ureolytic bacteria under non-sterile conditions. J Chem Sci Technol 2(3):141–146

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hammes F, Verstraete W (2002) Key roles of pH and calcium metabolism in microbial carbonate precipitation. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 1(1):3–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Stocks-Fischer S, Galinat JK, Bang SS (1999) Microbiological precipitation of CaCO3. Soil Biol Biochem 31(11):1563–1571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Arunachalam KD, Sathyanarayanan KS, Darshan BS, Balaji-Raja R (2010) Studies on the characterisation of Biosealant properties of Bacillus sphaericus. Int J Eng Sci Technol 2(3):270–277

    Google Scholar 

  34. Mortensen BM, Haber MJ, DeJong JT, Caslake LF, Nelson DC (2011) Effects of environmental factors on microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation. J Appl Microbiol 111(2):338–349. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.05065.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Pan X, Chu J, Yang Y, Cheng L (2020) A new biogrouting method for fine to coarse sand. Acta Geotech 15(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-019-00872-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Sasaki T, Kuwano R (2016) Undrained cyclic triaxial testing on sand with non-plastic fines content cemented with microbially induced CaCO3. Soils Found 56(3):485–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.04.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Mahawish A, Bouazza A, Gates WP (2018) Effect of particle size distribution on the bio-cementation of coarse aggregates. Acta Geotech 13(4):1019–1025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-017-0604-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. ASTM D6519–15 (2015) Standard practice for sampling of soil using the hydraulically operated stationary piston sampler. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  39. ASTM D6282/D6282M-14 (2014) Standard guide for direct push soil sampling for environmental site characterizations. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  40. Ramachandran SK, Ramakrishnan V, Bang SS (2001) Remediation of concrete using micro-organisms. ACI Mater J Am Concr Inst 98(1):3–9

    Google Scholar 

  41. Umar M, Kassim KA, Chiet KTP (2016) Temperature effects on the strengh properties of microbially stabilized residual soil. Jurnal Teknologi 78:7. https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v78.9492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Cheng L, Shahin MA, Cord-Ruwisch R, Addis M, Hartanto T, Elms C (2014) Soil stabilisation by microbial-induced calcite precipitation (micp): investigation into some physical and environmental aspects. In: 7th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics: iceg2014. Engineers Australia, p 1105

  43. ASTM D6913/D6913M-17 (2017) Standard Test methods for particle-size distribution (gradation) of soils using sieve analysis. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D6913_D6913M-17

    Book  Google Scholar 

  44. ASTM D854-14 (2014) Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D0854-14

    Book  Google Scholar 

  45. ASTM D4318-17e1 (2017) Standard test methods for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D4318-17E01

    Book  Google Scholar 

  46. ASTM D698–12e2 Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3)), ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1520/D0698-12E02

  47. ASTM D2216-10 (2010) Standard test methods for laboratory determination of water (moisture) content of soil and rock by mass. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D2216-10

    Book  Google Scholar 

  48. ASTM D2166/D2166M-16 (2016) Standard test method for unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D2166_D2166M-16

    Book  Google Scholar 

  49. ASTM D6528-17 (2017) Standard test method for consolidated undrained direct simple shear testing of fine grain soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D6528-17

    Book  Google Scholar 

  50. ASTM D1883-16 (2016) Standard test method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of laboratory-compacted soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  51. Zhao Q, Li L, Li C, Li M, Amini F, Zhang H (2014) Factors affecting improvement of engineering properties of MICP-treated soil catalyzed by bacteria and urease. J Mater Civ Eng 26(12):04014094. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Liu S, Wen K, Amini F, Li L (2020) Investigation of nonwoven geotextiles for full contact flexible mould used in preparation of MICP-treated geomaterial. Int. J. Geosynth. Ground Eng. 6:14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-020-00197-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Achal V, Pan X, Qinglong Fu, Zhang D (2012) Biomineralization based remediation of As(III) contaminated soil by Sporosarcinaginsengisoli. J Hazard Mater 201:178–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Wani KMNS, Mir BA (2019) Effect of biological cementation on the mechanical behaviour of dredged soils with emphasis on micro-structural analysis. Int J Geosynth Ground Eng 5(4):32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Li M, Fang C, Kawasaki S, Achal V (2018) Fly ash incorporated with biocement to improve strength of expansive soil. Sci Rep 8(1):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  56. Wani KMNS, Mir BA (2020) A laboratory-scale study on the bio-cementation potential of distinct river sediments infused with microbes. Transp Infrastruct Geotechnol 8:162–185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-020-00131-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Sheikh IR, Shah MY (2020) Experimental study on geocell reinforced base over dredged soil using static plate load test. Int J Pavement Res Technol 13:286–295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-020-0238-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Sheikh IR, Shah MY (2020) Experimental investigation on the reuse of reclaimed asphalt pavement over weak subgrade. Transp Infrastruct Geotech 7:634–650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-020-00115-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Wani KMNS, Mir BA (2019) Influence of microbial geo-technology in the stabilization of dredged soils. Int J Geotechn Eng 15:235–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/19386362.2019.1643099

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Farooq A, Mir FA (2020) Subgrade stabilization using non-biodegradable waste material. In: Prashant A, Sachan A, Desai C (eds) Advances in computer methods and geomechanics. Lecture notes in civil engineering, vol 55. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0886-8_50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  61. Chu J, Ivanov V, Naeimi M, Stabnikov V, Liu H-L (2014) Optimization of calcium-based bioclogging and biocementation of sand. Acta Geotech 9(2):277–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-013-0278-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Al Qabany A, Soga K (2014) Effect of chemical treatment used in MICP on engineering properties of cemented soils. In: Bio-and chemo-mechanical processes in geotechnical engineering: géotechnique symposium in Print 2013. ICE Publishing

  63. Wani KMNS, Mir BA (2020) Effect of microbial stabilization on the unconfined compressive strength and bearing capacity of weak soils. Transp Infrastruct Geotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-020-00110-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Wani KMNS, Mir BA (2020) Unconfined compressive strength testing of bio-cemented weak soils: a comparative upscale laboratory testing. Arab J Sci Eng 45:8145–8157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04647-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Chou C-W, Seagren EA, Aydilek AH, Lai M (2011) Biocalcification of sand through ureolysis. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 137(12):1179–1189. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Kumar P, Ramanjaney-Reddy M (2008) Reinforced embankments and sub base using demolition waste. J Sci Ind Res 67(5):386–391

    Google Scholar 

  67. Congress, I.R. (2001) Guidelines for the design of flexible pavements. Indian Code of Practice, IRC

    Google Scholar 

  68. Alhassan M, Mustapha AM (2007) Effect of rice husk ash on cement stabilized laterite. Leonardo Electron J Pract Technol 11:47–58

    Google Scholar 

  69. Al Qabany A, Soga K, Santamarina C (2012) Factors affecting efficiency of microbially induced calcite precipitation. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 138(8):992–1001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Feng K, Montoya BM (2016) Influence of confinement and cementation level on the behavior of microbial-induced calcite precipitated sands under monotonic drained loading. J Geotechn Geoenviron Eng 142(1):04015057. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Lin H, Suleiman MT, Brown DG, Kavazanjian E Jr (2016) Mechanical behavior of sands treated by microbially induced carbonate precipitation. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 142(2):5066. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Xiao Y, Zhao C, Sun Y et al (2020) Compression behavior of MICP-treated sand with various gradations. Acta Geotech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01116-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Chou C-W (2008) Biomodification of geotechnical properties of sand. M.S. thesis, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD. http://hdl.handle.net/1903/7812

  74. DeJong JT, Soga K, Kavazanjian E, Burns S, Van Paassen LA, Al Qabany A, Aydilek A, Bang SS, Burbank M, Caslake LF, Chen CY (2013) Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: progress, opportunities and challenges. In: Bio-and chemo-mechanical processes in geotechnical engineering: géotechnique symposium in Print 2013. Ice Publishing, pp 143–157

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Geotechnical staff and the Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Srinagar, for arranging the consumables required for the experiments and providing laboratory facilities round the clock.

Funding

PhD fellowship from Govt. of India (Ministry of Education) is received by the first and the third author under JRF/SRF grants.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, UT of Jammu & Kashmir, India

    K. M. N. Saquib Wani, B. A. Mir & Ishfaq Rashid Sheikh

Authors
  1. K. M. N. Saquib Wani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. A. Mir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ishfaq Rashid Sheikh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. M. N. Saquib Wani.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed Consent

For this type of study formal consent is not required.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wani, K.M.N.S., Mir, B.A. & Sheikh, I.R. Biological processes in the stabilization of weak river sediments: an innovative approach. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 6, 164 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00538-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00538-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation