TY - GEN
T1 - Use of waste streams and microbes for in situ transformation of sand into sandstone
AU - Van Der Star, Wouter R.L.
AU - Taher, Edris
AU - Harkes, Marien P.
AU - Blauw, Maaike
AU - Van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M.
AU - Van Paassen, Leon A.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - In the BioGrout process, sand is strengthened to sandstone with a strength, which is controllable from 0.3 to 30MPa (unconfined compressive strength) using biobased methods in which calcium carbonate (calcite) is precipitated in situ. The spectacular increase in strength, coupled to a limited reduction in porosity and permeability, makes the method a promising alternative to chemical grouting methods. The product is applicable in many geo- and civil-engineering applications, like strengthening of dykes, the production of underwater reefs or reducing risk of piping. A first generation of the process based on the hydrolysis of urea has been applied on a 100 m3 scale. Denitrification is one of the microbial processes which can be used as a BioGrout process. In this process, calcium nitrate and calcium-fatty acids are converted to form calcite by denitrifying microbes. These organisms are already present in the subsoil in low numbers, but are selectively enriched upon addition of the substrates the required substrates can be produced from chalk, manure and waste streams from food industries or tanneries. When nitrate is completely reduced, nitrogen gas is the only side product, emphasizing the sustainability of this new ground improvement method. In this contribution, the governing principles behind the method are elucidated and applications are discussed.
AB - In the BioGrout process, sand is strengthened to sandstone with a strength, which is controllable from 0.3 to 30MPa (unconfined compressive strength) using biobased methods in which calcium carbonate (calcite) is precipitated in situ. The spectacular increase in strength, coupled to a limited reduction in porosity and permeability, makes the method a promising alternative to chemical grouting methods. The product is applicable in many geo- and civil-engineering applications, like strengthening of dykes, the production of underwater reefs or reducing risk of piping. A first generation of the process based on the hydrolysis of urea has been applied on a 100 m3 scale. Denitrification is one of the microbial processes which can be used as a BioGrout process. In this process, calcium nitrate and calcium-fatty acids are converted to form calcite by denitrifying microbes. These organisms are already present in the subsoil in low numbers, but are selectively enriched upon addition of the substrates the required substrates can be produced from chalk, manure and waste streams from food industries or tanneries. When nitrate is completely reduced, nitrogen gas is the only side product, emphasizing the sustainability of this new ground improvement method. In this contribution, the governing principles behind the method are elucidated and applications are discussed.
KW - BioGrout process
KW - Grouting methods
KW - MICP
KW - Microbially induced carbonate precipitation
KW - Soil strengthening
KW - Sporosarcina pasteurii
KW - Urease
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78149363754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78149363754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3850/GI126
DO - 10.3850/GI126
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78149363754
SN - 9789810831240
T3 - Geotechnical Society of Singapore - International Symposium on Ground Improvement Technologies and Case Histories, ISGI'09
SP - 177
EP - 182
BT - Geotechnical Society of Singapore - International Symposium on Ground Improvement Technologies and Case Histories, ISGI'09
T2 - International Symposium on Ground Improvement Technologies and Case Histories, ISGI'09
Y2 - 9 December 2009 through 12 December 2009
ER -