Manufacturing of Living Building Materials With Calcifying Cyanobacteria

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Cyanobacteria's calcifying properties enable microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP).
• MICP is explored as a CO2-friendly alternative to cement in producing living building materials (LBMs).
• Existing research lacks detailed, standardized protocols for LBM manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive, step-by-step protocol for producing LBMs using cyanobacteria.
• To detail the manufacturing process for a cyanobacterial-gelatin mixture with sand.
• To establish a reproducible method for strength testing of cyanobacteria-based building materials.

Main Methods:

• Activation of a cyanobacteria-gel solution with CaCl2 × 2H2O and NaHCO3.
• Casting standardized prisms (160 × 40 × 40 mm) with the activated mixture and sand.
• Demolding and subsequent bending tensile and compressive strength tests.

Main Results:

• A detailed workflow for manufacturing cement-free LBMs using cyanobacteria.
• Demonstration of strength testing procedures for proof of concept.
• Successful production of standardized LBM prisms.

Conclusions:

• The presented protocol offers a reproducible method for cyanobacteria-based LBM production.
• This technique serves as a novel platform for carbon capture strategies in construction.
• The protocol is adaptable for other cyanobacterial strains and substitute materials.