Bacterial Concrete

Author(s):

Maaz Allah Khan , AIET/AKTU; Kundan Kumar, AIET/AKTU; Fazal Salim, AIET/AKTU; Mohd Afzal, AIET/AKTU; Mohd Mehandi, AIET/AKTU

Keywords:

Bacterium, Anaerobic

Abstract:

Cracks in concrete are inevitable and are one of the inherent weaknesses of concrete. Water and other salt seep through these crack corrosion initiates, and thus reduces the life of concrete. So there was a need to develop an inherent biomaterial, a self-repairing material which a remediate the cracks and fissures in concrete. Bacterial concrete is a material, which can successfully remediate cracks in concrete. This technique is desirable because the material precipitation induced as a result of microbial activities is pollution free and natural. As the cell wall of bacteria is anionic metal accumulation (calcite) on the surface of the wall is substantial, thus the entire cell becomes crystalline and they eventually plug the pores discusses the plugging of artificially made cuts in cement mortar which was cured in urea and CaCl2 medium. The effect on compressive strength and stiffness of the cement mortar cubes due to the mixing of bacteria is also discussed in this paper. It was found that use of bacteria improves the stiffness and compressive strength of concrete. Scanning electron microscope is used to document the role of bacteria in microbiologically induced mineral precipitation. Rod like impressions where found on the face of calcite crystal indicating the presence of bacteria in those places. Energy dispersive X-ray spectra of the microbial precipitation on the surface of the crack indicated the abundance of calcium and the precipitation was inferred to be calcite (CaCO3).

Other Details:

Manuscript Id	:	IJSTEV3I9187
Published in	:	Volume : 3, Issue : 9
Publication Date	:	01/04/2017
Page(s)	:	649-653

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