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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Sandy Soil Improvement through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) by Immersion
Published on: September 12, 2019
Microbial phytase-induced calcium-phosphate precipitation--a potential soil stabilization method
G Roeselers1, M C M Van Loosdrecht
1Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, NL-2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands. guus@roeselers.com
Abstract:
Two hypotheses were tested: (1) microbial dephosphorylation of phytate in the presence of Ca²+ ions will result in the precipitation of hydroxyapatite-like crystals and (2) precipitation of calcium-phosphate crystals on and between sand-like particles can cause cementation. A growing culture of the dimorphic phytase-active yeast Arxula adeninivorans was introduced into a column filled with quartz particles and subsequently a liquid growth medium amended with calcium phytate was pumped through the column resulting in increased strength and stiffness of the quartz particle matrix. Environmental scanning electron microscope analysis combined with energy-dispersive X-ray measurement revealed cementation of the quartz particles by calcium-phosphate crystals. This microbial mineralization process could provide a novel approach to improving the mechanical properties like strength and stiffness of sandy soils.
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