Microbial Culture Condition Optimization and Fiber Reinforcement on Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation for Soil Stabilization

Changjun Wang, Xiaoxiao Li, Jianjun Zhu, Wenzhu Wei, Xinran Qu, Ling Wang, Ninghui Sun and Lei Zhang ()
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Changjun Wang: Beijing Building Research Institute Corporation Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Beijing 100076, China
Xiaoxiao Li: Beijing Building Research Institute Corporation Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Beijing 100076, China
Jianjun Zhu: Beijing Building Research Institute Corporation Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Beijing 100076, China
Wenzhu Wei: Beijing Building Research Institute Corporation Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Beijing 100076, China
Xinran Qu: Beijing Building Research Institute Corporation Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Beijing 100076, China
Ling Wang: China Construction First Group Corporation Limited, Beijing 100037, China
Ninghui Sun: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Lei Zhang: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: Traditional soil stabilization methods, including cement and chemical grouting, are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology offers a sustainable alternative by utilizing microorganisms to precipitate calcium carbonate, binding soil particles to improve mechanical properties. However, the application of MICP technology in soil stabilization still faces certain challenges. First, the mineralization efficiency of microorganisms needs to be improved to optimize the uniformity and stability of carbonate precipitation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of soil stabilization. Second, MICP-treated soil generally exhibits high fracture brittleness, which may limit its practical engineering applications. Therefore, improving microbial mineralization efficiency and enhancing the ductility and overall integrity of stabilized soil remain key issues that need to be addressed for the broader application of MICP technology. This study addresses these challenges by optimizing microbial culture conditions and incorporating polyethylene fiber reinforcement. The experiments utilized sandy soil and polyethylene fibers, with Bacillus pasteurii as the microbial strain. The overall experimental process included microbial cultivation, specimen solidification, and performance testing. Optimization experiments for microbial culture conditions indicated that the optimal urea concentration was 0.5 mol/L and the optimal pH was 9, significantly enhancing microbial growth and urease activity, thereby improving calcium carbonate production efficiency. Specimens with different fiber contents (0% to 1%) were prepared using a stepwise intermittent grouting technique to form cylindrical samples. Performance test results indicated that at a fiber content of 0.6%, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) increased by 80%, while at a fiber content of 0.4%, the permeability coefficient reached its minimum value (5.83 × 10 −5 cm/s). Furthermore, microscopic analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), revealed the synergistic effect between calcite precipitation and fiber reinforcement. The combined use of MICP and fiber reinforcement presents an eco-friendly and efficient strategy for soil stabilization, with significant potential for geotechnical engineering applications.

Keywords: microbial-induced carbonate precipitation; soil stabilization; sandy soils; polyethylene fibers; unconfined compressive strength; permeability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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