title: Biomimetic Hydrogel Composites for Soil Stabilization and Contaminant Mitigation.
abstract: We have developed a novel method to synthesize a hyper-branched biomimetic hydrogel network across a soil matrix to improve the mechanical strength of the loose soil and simultaneously mitigate potential contamination due to excessive ammonium. This method successfully yielded a hierarchical structure that possesses the water retention, ion absorption, and soil aggregation capabilities of plant root systems in a chemically controllable manner. Inspired by the robust organic-inorganic composites found in many living organisms, we have combined this hydrogel network with a calcite biomineralization process to stabilize soil. Our experiments demonstrate that poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) can work synergistically with enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) to render a versatile, high-performance soil stabilization method. PAA-enhanced EICP provides multiple benefits including lengthening of water supply time, localization of cementation reactions, reduction of harmful byproduct ammonium, and achievement of ultrahigh soil strength. Soil crusts we have obtained can sustain up to 4.8 × 103kPa pressure, a level comparable to cementitious materials. An ammonium removal rate of 96% has also been achieved. These results demonstrate the potential for hydrogel-assisted EICP to provide effective soil improvement and ammonium mitigation for wind erosion control and other applications.
authors.affiliation: School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , 781 E Terrace Rd, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.|The Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics, Arizona State University , P.O. Box 873005, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics, Arizona State University , P.O. Box 873005, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.affiliation: School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , 781 E Terrace Rd, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , 781 E Terrace Rd, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.
authors.forename: Hanqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.affiliation: The Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics, Arizona State University , P.O. Box 873005, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almajed
authors.affiliation: The Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics, Arizona State University , P.O. Box 873005, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kavazanjian
authors.affiliation: School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , 781 E Terrace Rd, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.|The Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics, Arizona State University , P.O. Box 873005, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.|The Biodesign Institute, Molecular Design and Biomimetics Center, Arizona State University , 727 E. Tyler St., Tempe, Arizona 85287-5001, United States.
authors.forename: Ximin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate