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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation Mediated by Sporosarcina pasteurii
Published on: April 16, 2016
Sporosarcina pasteurii can clog and strengthen a porous medium mimic
Swayamdipta Bhaduri1,2, Carlo Montemagno1
1Ingenuity Lab, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract:
The bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii can produce significant volumes of solid precipitation in the presence of specific chemical environments. These solid precipitate particles can enter a network of microscale pores and cause long-range clogging. As a result, the medium gains strength and exhibits superior mechanical properties. This concept is also known as Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP). In this study, we have used sponge blocks as surrogate porous media mimics and analyzed several aspects of MICP. A synergistic approach involving electron microscopy (SEM), computerized X-Ray tomography (μCT), quasi-static compressive load testing and chemical characterization (EDX) has been used to understand several physical and chemical aspects of MICP.
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