Jump to content

Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Space Cadet (talk | contribs) at 23:19, 22 September 2013 (→Ureolysis or Degradation of Urea: NH2COOH). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a bio-geochemical process that induces calcium carbonate precipitation within the soil matrix.[1] Biomineralization in the form of calcium carbonate precipitation can be traced back to the Precambrian period.[2] Calcium carbonate can be precipitated in three polymorphic forms, which in the order of their usual stabilities are calcite, aragonite and vaterite.[3] The main groups of microorganisms that can induce the carbonate precipitation are photosynthetic microorganisms such as cynobacteria and microalgae; sulfate-reducing bacteria; and some species of microorganisms involved in nitrogen cycle.[4] Several mechanisms have been identified by which bacteria can induce the calcium carbonate precipitation, including urea hydrolysis, denitrification, sulphate production, and iron reduction. Two different pathways, or autotrophic and heterotrophic pathways, through which calcium carbonate is produced have been identified. There are three autotrophic pathways exist. However, all three pathways result in depletion of carbon dioxide and favouring calcium carbonate precipitation.[5] In heterotrophic pathway, two metabolic cycles can be involved: the nitrogen cycle and the sulfur cycle. Several applications of this process have been proposed, such as remediation of cracks and corrosion prevention in concrete,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] biogrout,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] sequestration of radionuclides and heavy metals.[21][22][23][24]

Metabolic pathways

Autotrophic pathway

All three principal kinds of bacteria that are involved in autotrophic production of carbonate obtain carbon from gaseous or dissolved carbon dioxide.[25] These pathways include non-methylotrophic methanogenesis, anoxygenic photosynthesis, and oxygenic photosynthesis. Non-methylotrophic methanogegenesis is carried out by methanogenic archaebacteria, which use CO2 and H2 in anaerobiosis to give CH4.[25]

Heterotrophic pathway

Two separate and often concurrent heterotrophic pathways that lead to calcium carbonate precipitation may occur, including active and passive carbonatogenesis. During active carbonatogenesis, the carbonate particles are produced by ionic exchanges through the cell membrane by activation of calcium and/or magnesium ionic pumps or channels, probably coupled with carbonate ion production.[25] During passive carbonatogenesis, two metabolic cycles can be involved, the nitrogen cycle and the sulfur cycle. Three different pathways can be involved in the nitrogen cycle: ammonification of amino acids, dissimilatory reduction of nitrate, and degradation of urea or uric acid.[26] In sulfur cycle, bacteria follow the dissimilatory reduction of sulfate.[25]

Ureolysis or Degradation of Urea

The microbial urease catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonium and carbonate.[16] One mole of urea is hydrolyzed intracellularly to 1 mol of ammonia and 1 mole of Carbamic acid (1), which spontaneously hydrolyzes to form an additional 1 mole of ammonia and carbonic acid (2).[27]

CO(NH2)2 + H2O ---> NH2COOH + NH3 (1)

NH2COOH + H2O ---> NH3 + H2CO3 (2)

Ammonium and carbonic acid form bicarbonate and 2 moles of ammonium and hydroxide ions in water (3 &4).

2NH3 + 2H2O <---> 2NH+4 +2OH- (3) H2CO3 <---> HCO-3 + H+ (4)

The production of hydroxide ions results in the increase of pH, which in turn can shift the bicarbonate equilibrium, resulting in the formation of carbonate ions (5)

HCO-3 + H+ + 2NH+4 +2OH- <---> CO3-2 + 2NH+4 + 2H2O (5)

The produced carbonate ions precipitate in the presence of calcium ions as calcium carbonate crystals (6).

Ca+2 + CO3-2 <---> CaCO3 (6)

The formation of a monolayer of calcite further increases the affinity of the bacteria to the soil surface, resulting in the production of multiple layers of calcite.

Possible applications

Material Science

MICP has been reported as a long-term remediation technique that has been exhibited high potential for crack cementation of various structural formations such as granite and concrete. [28]

Treatment of concrete

MICP has been shown to prolong concrete service life due to calcium carbonate precipitation. The calcium carbonate heals the concrete by solidifying on the cracked concrete surface mimicking the process by which bone fractures in human body are healed by osteoblast cells that mineralize to reform the bone.[28] Two methods are currently being studied: injection of calcium carbonate precipitating bacteria.[29][8][9][30] and by applying bacteria and nutrients as a surface treatment.[31][6] Increase in strength and durability of MICP treated concrete has been reported.[32]

Fillers for rubber, plastics and ink

MICP technique may be applied to produce a material that can be used as a filler in rubber and plastics, fluorescent particles in stationery ink, and a fluorescent marker for biochemistry applications, such as western blot.[33]

Liquefaction prevention

Microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation has been proposed as an alternative cementation technique to improve the properties of potentially liquefiable sand.[14] [34][16][17][18][1] The increase in shear strength, confined compressive strength, stiffness and liquefaction resistance was reported due to calcium carbonate precipitation resulted from microbial activity.[15][16][18][20] Light microscopic imaging suggested that the mechanical strength enhancement of cemented sandy material is caused mostly due to point-to-point contacts of calcium carbonate crystals and adjacent sand grains.[35] One-dimensional column experiments allowed the monitoring of treatment progration by the means of change in pore fluid chemistry.[36] [14] [1][20] Triaxial compression tests on untreated and bio-cemented Ottawa sand have shown an increase in shear strength by a factor of 1.8.[37] Changes in pH and concentrations of urea, ammonium, calcium and calcium carbonate in pore fluid with the distance from the injection point in 5-meter column experiments have shown that bacterial activity resulted in successful hydrolysis of urea, increase in pH and precipitation of calcite.[20] However, such activity decreased as the distance from the injection point increased. Shear wave velocity measurements demonstrated that positive correlation exists between shear wave velocity and the amount of precipitated calcite.[38] A large scale (100 m3) have shown a significant increase in shear wave velocity was observed during the treatment.[19]

Possible limitations of MICP as a cementation technique

MICP treatment may be limited to deep soil due to limitations of bacterial growth and movement in subsoil. MICP may be limited to the soils containing limited amounts of fines due to the reduction in pore spaces in fine soils. Based on the size of microorganism, the applicability of biocementation is limited to GW, GP, SW, SP, ML, and organic soils.[39] Bacteria are not expected to enter through pore throats smaller than approximately 0.4 µm. In general, the microbial abundance was found to increase with the increase in particle size.[40] On the other hand, the fine particles may provide more favorable nucleation sites for calcium carbonate precipitation because the mineralogy of the grains could directly influence the thermodynamics of the precipitation reaction in the system.[18] The habitable pores and traversable pore throats were found in coarse sediments and some clayey sediments at shallow depth. In clayey soil, bacteria are capable of reorienting and moving clay particles under low confining stress (at shallow depths). However, inability to make these rearrangements under high confining stresses limits bacterial activity at larger depths. Furthermore, sediment-cell interaction may cause puncture or tensile failure of the cell membrane. Similarly, at larger depths, silt and sand particles may crush and cause a reduction in pore spaces, reducing the biological activity.

Remediation for heavy metal and radionuclide contamination

MICP is a promising technique that can be used for containment of various contaminants and heavy metals. The availability of lead in soil may reduced by its chelation with the MICP product, wich is the mechanism responsible for Pb immobilization. [41] MICP can be also applied to achieve sequestration of heavy metals and radionuclides. Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation of radionuclide and contaminant metals into calcite is a competitive co-precipitation reaction in which suitable divalent cations are incorporated into the calcite lattice. [42]

References

  1. ^ a b c Mortensen, B.M., Haber, M.J., DeJong, J.T., Caslake, L.F. Nelson, D.C. (2011). Effects of environmental factors on microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation. J Appl Microbiol., 111(2),338-49.
  2. ^ Ercole, C., Cacchio, P., Cappuccio, G., Lepidi, A. (2001). Deposition of calcium carbonate in karst caves: rol of bacteria in stiffe's cave. Int. J. Speleol., 30 A (1/4), 69-79.
  3. ^ Simkiss, K. (1964). Variations in the crystalline form of calcium carbonate precipitated from artificial sea water. Nature, 201, 492-493.
  4. ^ Ariyanti, D., Handayani, N.A., Hadiyanto (2011). An overview of biocement production from microalgae. Internat. J. od Sci. and Eng. 2(2), 30-33.
  5. ^ Castanier, S., Le Métayer-Levrel,G., Jean-Pierre Perthuisot, J.-P.(1999). Ca-carbonates precipitation and limestone genesis — the microbiogeologist point of view. Sedimentary Geology, 126, 9-23.
  6. ^ a b Achal, V., Mukherjee, A., Goyal, S., Reddy, M.S. (2012). Corrosion prevention of reinforced concrete with microbial calcite precipitation. ACI Materials Journal, April, 157-163.
  7. ^ Van Tittelboom, K., De Belie, N., De Muynck, W., Verstraete, W. (2010). Use of bacteria to repair cracks in concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, 40(1), 157-166.
  8. ^ a b Wiktor, V., Jonkers, H.M. (2011). Quantification of crack-healing in novel bacteria-based self-healing concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 33, 763-770
  9. ^ a b Bang, S.S., Lippert, J.J., Mulukutla, S., Ramakrishnan (2010). Microbial calcite, a bio-based smart nanomaterial in concrete remediation. International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, 1(1), 28-39.
  10. ^ Jonkers, H.M., Thijssena, A., Muyzerb, G., Copuroglua, O., Schlangen, E. (2010). Application of bacteria as self-healing agent for the development of sustainable concrete. Ecological Eng., 36, 230-235.
  11. ^ Ramachandran, S.K., Ramakrishnan, V., Bang, S.S. (2001). Remediation of concrete using microorganisms. ACI Materials Journal, 98, 3-9.
  12. ^ De Muynck, W., Cox, K., De Belie, N., Verstraete, W. (2008). Bacterial carbonate precipitation as an alternative surface treatment for concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 22, 875-885.
  13. ^ Al-Thawadi, (2011). Ureolytic bacteria and calcium carbonate formation as a mechanism of strength enhancement of sand. J. Adv. Science and Eng. Research, 1, 98-114.
  14. ^ a b c Barkouki, T., Martinez, B.C., Mortensen, B.M., Weathers, T.S., DeJong, J.T., Ginn, T.R., Spycher, N.F., Smith, R.W., Fujita, Y. (2011). Forward and inverse bio-mediated modeling og microbially induced calcite precipitation in half-meter column experiments. Transport in Porous Media, 90, 23-39.
  15. ^ a b Chou, C.-W., Seagren, E.A., Aydilek, A.H., Lai, M. (2011). Biocalcification of sand through ureolysis. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 127(12), 1179-1189.
  16. ^ a b c d DeJong, J.T., Fritzges, M.B., Nüsslein, K. (2006). Microbial Induced Cementation to Control Sand Response to Undrained Shear. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 132(11), 1381-1392.
  17. ^ a b DeJong, J.T., Morenson, B.M., Martinez, B.C., Nelson, D.C. (2010). Bio-mediated soil improvement. Ecol. Eng., 36(2), 197-210.
  18. ^ a b c d Rong, H., Qian, C.X., Wang, R.X. (2011). A cementation method of loose particles based on microbe-based cement. Science China: Technological Sciences, 54(7), 1722-1729.
  19. ^ a b Van Paassen, L.A., Ghose, R., van der Linden, T.J.M., van der Star, W.R.L., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M. (2010). Quantifying biomediated ground improvement by ureolysis: Large-scale biogrout experiment. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., ASCE, 136(12), 1721-1728.
  20. ^ a b c d Whiffin, V.S., van Paassen, L.A., Harkes, M.P. (2007). Microbial carbonate precipitation as a soil improvement technique. Geomicrobiol. J., 24, 417-423.
  21. ^ Fujita, Y., Redden, G.D., Ingram, J.C., Cortez, M.M., Ferris, F.G., Smith, R.W. (2004). Strontium incorporation into calcite generated by bacterial ureolysis. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 68(15), 3261-3270.
  22. ^ Curti, E. (1999). Coprecipitation of radionuclides with calcite: Estimation of partition coefficients based on a review of laboratory investigations and geochemical data. Appl. Geochem., 14, 433-445.
  23. ^ Zachara, J.M., Cowan, C.E., Resch, C.T. (1991). Sorption of divalent metals on calcite. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., 55, 1549-1562.
  24. ^ Pingitore, N.E., Eastman, M.P. (1986). The coprecipitation of Sr2+ and calcite at 25 degrees C and 1 atm. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., 50(10), 2195-2203.
  25. ^ a b c d Riding, E., Awramik, S.M. (Eds.)(2000)Microbial Sediments
  26. ^ Monty, C.L.V., Bosence, D.W.J, Bridges, P.H., Pratt, B.R.(eds.)(1995). Carbonate Mud-Mounds: Their Origin and Evolution.Wiley-Blackwell
  27. ^ Hammes, F., Seka, A., de Knijf, S., Verstraete, W. (2003). A novel approach to calcium removal from calcium-rich industrial wastewater. Water Res., 37, 699-704.
  28. ^ a b Jagadeesha Kumar, B.G., Prabhakara, R., Pushpa, H. (2013). Bio mineralization of calcium carbonate by different bacterial strains and their application in concrete crack remediation. Int. J. of Adv. in Eng. and Techn., 6(1), 202-213.
  29. ^ Achal, V., Mukherjee, A., Basu, P.C., Reddy, M.S. (2009). Strain improvement of Sporosarcina pasteurii for enhanced urease and calcite production. Jornal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 36(7), 981-988.
  30. ^ Wang, J. (2013). Self-healing concrete by means of immobilized carbonate precipitating bacteria. Ghent University. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent, Belgium
  31. ^ De Muynck, W., Debrouwer, D., Belie, N., Verstraete, W. (2008) Bacterial carbonate precipitation improves durability of cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Research, 38, 1005-1014.
  32. ^ Reddy, S., Achyutha Satya, K., Seshagiri Rao, M.V., Azmatunnisa M. (2012). A biological approach to enhance strength and durability in concrete structures. International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology, 4(2), 392-399.
  33. ^ Yoshida, N., Higashimura, E., Saeki, Y. (2010). Catalytic Biomineralization of Fluorescent Calcite by the Thermophilic Bacterium Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.,76(21), 7322-7327.
  34. ^ Chahal, N., Rajor, A., Siddique, R. (2011). Calcium Carbonate precipitation by different bacterial strains. African J. of Biotech., 10(42). 8359-8372.
  35. ^ Al-Thawadi, (2008). High strength in-situ biocementation of soil by calcite precipitating locally isolated ureolytic bacteria. Ph.D. dissertation. Murdoch University, Western Australia.
  36. ^ Al-Qabany, A., Soga, K., Santamarina, J.C. (2012). Factors affecting efficiency of microbially induced calcite precipitation. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., In Press.
  37. ^ Tagliaferri, F., Waller, J., Ando, E., Hall, S.A., Viggiani, G., Besuelle, P., DeJong, J.T. (2011). Observing strain localization processes in bio-cemented sand using X-ray imaging. Granular Matter, 13, 247-250.
  38. ^ Weil, M.H., DeJong, J.T., Martinez, B.C., Mortensen, B.M., Waller, J.T. (2012). Seismic and resistivity measurements for real-time monitoring of microbially induced calcite precipitation in sand. ASTM J. Geotech. Testing, In Press.
  39. ^ Mitchell, J.K., Santamarina, J.C. (2005). Biological considerations in geotechnical engineering. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 131(10), 1222-1233.
  40. ^ Rebata-Landa, V., Santamarina, J.C. (2006). Mechanical limits to microbial activity in deep sediments. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 7(11), 1-12.
  41. ^ Achal,V., Pan, X., Zhang, D., Fu, Q. (2012). Bioremediation of Pb-Contaminated Soil Based on Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 22(2), 244~247.
  42. ^ Hamdan, N., Kavazanjian, Jr. E., Rittmann, B.E. (2011). Sequestration of radionuclides and metal contaminants through microbially-induced carbonate precipitation. Pan-Am CGS Geotechnical Conference
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Microbiologically_induced_calcite_precipitation&oldid=574108204"