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Enzyme Induced Biocementated Sand with High Strength at Low Carbonate Content
Abdullah Almajed1, Hamed Khodadadi Tirkolaei2, Edward Kavazanjian3
1Assistant Professor, College of Civil Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11421, Saudi Arabia.
Scientific Reports
|February 6, 2019
Summary
Adding non-fat powdered milk to enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) significantly boosts silica sand strength. This sustainable soil improvement method uses less enzyme and urea, reducing by-products.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is a biological soil improvement technique.
- EICP utilizes urease enzyme to catalyze urea hydrolysis, producing calcium carbonate precipitate.
- Calcium carbonate precipitation enhances soil strength and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of non-fat powdered milk on the strength of silica sand treated with EICP.
- To evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of EICP with powdered milk addition.
- To understand the mechanism of carbonate precipitation at interparticle contacts.
Main Methods:
- Silica sand specimens were treated using EICP with and without non-fat powdered milk.
- Urea and urease enzyme were used as reactants in an aqueous solution.
- Compressive strength tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed.
Main Results:
- Specimens with powdered milk showed significantly higher strength at low carbonate content (<1.4%).
- SEM images revealed concentrated carbonate precipitate at interparticle contacts in powdered milk treated specimens.
- Unprecedented strength was achieved with a single EICP treatment cycle.
Conclusions:
- Non-fat powdered milk enhances EICP efficiency, leading to higher soil strength.
- This method reduces the required enzyme and urea concentrations.
- The addition of powdered milk offers a more sustainable approach to soil improvement via urea hydrolysis.
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