Effect of some biotic factors on microbially-induced calcite precipitation in cement mortar.
Sporosarcina pasteurii, a common soil bacterium has been tested for microbial treatment of cement mortar. The present study also seeks to investigate the effects of growth medium, bacterial concentration and different buffers concerning the preparation of bacterial suspensions on the compressive strength of cement mortar. Two growth media, six different suspensions and two bacterial concentrations were used in the study. The influence of growth medium on calcification efficiency ofS. pasteuriiwas insignificant. Significant improvement in the compressive as well as the tensile strength of cement mortar was observed. Microbial mineral precipitation visualized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) shows fibrous material that increased the strength of cement mortar. Formation of thin strands of fillers observed through SEM micrographs improves the pore structure, impermeability and thus the compressive as well as the tensile strengths of the cement mortar. The type of substrate and its molarity have a significant influence on the strength of cement mortar.
MMB Chair for Research and Studies in Strengthening and Rehabilitation of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
Yousef
Y
Al-Salloum
MMB Chair for Research and Studies in Strengthening and Rehabilitation of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
H
H
Abbas
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Q I
QI
Sheikh
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
S
S
Hadi
MMB Chair for Research and Studies in Strengthening and Rehabilitation of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
Saleh
S
Alsayed
MMB Chair for Research and Studies in Strengthening and Rehabilitation of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
Tarek
T
Almusallam
Bacteria; Cement mortar; Compressive strength; Growth medium; Image analysis; Sporosarcina pasteurii