International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Bioengineered Concrete - A Sustainable Self-Healing Construction Material

    , , , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Civil Engineering, JNTUH College of Engineering Hyderabad, INDIA

Res. J. Engineering Sci., Volume 2, Issue (6), Pages 45-51, June,26 (2013)

Abstract

It is a well known fact that concrete structures are very susceptible to cracking which allows chemicals and water to enter and degrade the concrete, reducing the performance of the structure and also requires expensive maintenance in the form of repairs. Cracking in the surface layer of concrete mainly reduces its durability, since cracks are responsible for the transport of liquids and gasses that could potentially contain deleterious substances. When microcracks growth reaches the reinforcement, not only the concrete itself may be damaged, but also corrosion occurs in the reinforcement due to exposure to water and oxygen, and possibly CO and chlorides too. Micro-cracks are therefore the main cause to structural failure. One way to circumvent costly manual maintenance and repair is to incorporate an autonomous self -healing mechanism in concrete. One such an alternative repair mechanism is currently being studied, i.e. a novel technique based on the application of biominerilization of bacteria in concrete. The applicability of specifically calcite mineral precipitating bacteria for concrete repair and plugging of pores and cracks in concrete has been recently investigated and studies on the possibility of using specific bacteria as a sustainable and concrete -embedded self healing agent was studied and results from ongoing studies are discussed. Synthetic polymers such as epoxy treatment etc are currently being used for repair of concrete are harmful to the environment, hence the use of a biological repair technique in concrete is focused. In the present paper, an attempt is made to incorporate dormant but viable bacteria in the concrete matrix which will contribute to the strength and durability of the concrete. Water which enters the concrete will activate the dormant bacteria which in turn will give strength to the concrete through the process of metabolically mediated calcium carbonate precipitation. Concrete, due to its high internal pH, relative dryness and lack of nutrients needed for growth, is a rather hostile environment for common bacteria, but there are some extremophilic spore forming bacteria may be able to survive in this environment and increase the strength and durability of cement concrete. Overview of development of bioengineered concrete using bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis JC3 and its enhanced mechanical and durability characteristics will be briefly described in this paper.

References

  1. Ramachandran S.K., Ramakrishnan V. and Bang S.S., Remediation of concrete using microorganisms, ACI Materials Journal 98(1), 3-9 (2001)
  2. De Muynck W., Cox K., De Belie N. and Verstraete W. Bacterial carbonate precipitation as an alternative surface treatment for concrete, Constr Build Mater,22, 875 -885(2008)
  3. Jonkers H.M., Self healing concrete: A biological approach. In Self healing materials – An alternative approach to 20 centuries of materials science (ed. S. van der Zwaag), 195–204 (2007)
  4. Springer, the Netherlands 4.De Belie N. and De Muynck W., Crack repair in concrete using bio-deposition, in Alexander et al. (eds.) Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting II, Proceedings of an International Conference, Cape Town, November, 2008 Taylor and Francis Group, London, 777-781 (2009)
  5. Jonkers H., Self healing concrete: a biological approach, in S. van der Zwaag (ed.) Self Healing Materials: An alternative approach to 20 centuries of materials science (Springer, Dordrecht, 195-204 (2007)
  6. Jonkers H.M. and Schlangen H.E.J.G., Bacteria-based self-healing concrete, Restoration of Buildings and Monuments 15(4) 255-266 (2009)
  7. De Muynck W., De Belie N. and Verstraete W., Microbial carbonate precipitation in construction materials: A review , Ecological Engineering 36(2), 118-136 (2010)
  8. Raijiwala D.B., Bacterial Concrete: A Self-Healing Concrete” The ICFAI University Journal of Structural Engineering, I(2), 56-63 (2008)
  9. Li, V., University of Michigan, Self-healing concrete for safer, more durable infrastructure, Science Daily, 22 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. (2012)
  10. Salwa Mutlaq Al-Thawadi, Ureolytic Bacteria and Calcium Carbonate Formation as a Mechanism of Strength Enhancement of Sand, Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research 98-114 (2011)
  11. Ehrlich H.L., Geomicrobiology: Its significance for geology. Earth-Science Reviews, 45, 45-60 (1998)
  12. Castanier S., Le Métayer-Levrel, G. and Perthuisot J.P. Carbonates precipitation and limestone genesis–the microbiologist point of view. Sedimentary Geology, 126(1-4), 9-23 (1999)
  13. Castanier S., Le Metayer-Levrel G. and Perthuisot J. P., Bacterial roles in the precipitation of carbonate minerals. In Riding, R.E., Awramik and S.M. (Eds.), Microbial Sediments32-39 (2000)
  14. Stocks-Fischer S., Galinat J.K., and Bang S.S., Microbiological precipitation of CaCO. Soil Biology and Biochemistry,31(11), 1563-1571 (1999)
  15. Hammes F. and Verstraete W., Key roles of pH and calcium metabolism in microbial carbonate precipitation, Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 1, 3-7 (2002)
  16. Tang H.H. and Dove P.M., Surface site-specific interaction of Aspartate with calcite during dissolution; Implication for biomineralization, American Mineralogist, 82, 878-887(1997)
  17. De Yoreo J.J. and Vekilov P.G., Principles of crystal nucleation and growth, Review in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 54(1), 57-93 (2003)
  18. Tai C.Y. and Chen F.B., Polymorphism of CaCO3 precipitated in a constant-composition environment. AIChE Journal, 44(8), 1790-1798 (1998)
  19. Wray J.L. and Daniels F., Precipitation of calcite and aragonite, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 79(9), 2031-2034 (1957)
  20. Yagi H., Iwazawa A., Sonobe R., Mateubara T. and Kikita H., Crystalization of calcium carbonate accompanying chemical absorption, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals. 23(2), 153-158 (1984)
  21. Sanchez-Moral S., Canaveras J.C., Laiz L., Saiz-Jimenez C., Bedoya J., and Luque L.. Biomediated precipitation of calcium carbonate metastable phases in hypogean environments: A short review, Geomicrobiology Journal, 20(5), 491-500 (2003)
  22. Kralj D., Breevi L., and Nielsen A.E., Vaterite growth and dissolution in aqueous solution I. Kinetics of crystal growth, Journal of Crystal Growth, 104(4), 793 (1990)
  23. Roques H. and Girou A., Kinetic of the formation conditions of carbonate tartars, Water Research, 8, 907-920 (1974)
  24. Mobley H.L.T. and Hausinger R.P., Microbial Ureases: Significance, regulation and molecular characterization, Microbiological Review, 53(1), 85-108 (1989)
  25. Rivadeneyra M.A., Ramos-Cormenzana A., Delgado G. and Delgado R., Process of carbonate precipitation by Deleya halophila, Current Microbiology, 32(6), 308-313 (1996)
  26. González-Muñoz M.T., Ben-Chekroun K., Ben-Aboud A., Arias J.M. and Rodriguez-Gallego M., Bacterially induced Mg-Calcite formation: Role of Mg+ in development of crystal morphology, Journal of Sedimentary Research,70, 559-564 (2000)
  27. Seshagiri Rao M.V., Ch Sasikala V. and Srinivasa Reddy, A Biological Approach To Enhance Strength And Durability In Concrete Structures, International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology (IJAET), Sept 2012 4(2), 392-399 (2012)
  28. Holt J.G., Kried N.R., Senath P.H. A., Staley J.T. and Williams S.T., (Eds.), Bergey s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 7 (1993)