Engineering Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Biology and Biochemistry
Abstract
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Organisations
Publications
Alex A
(2023)
Carbonation and self-healing in concrete: Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of mineralization
in Cement and Concrete Composites
Bagga M
(2023)
Assessing the potential application of bacteria-based self-healing cementitious materials for enhancing durability of wastewater treatment infrastructure
in Cement and Concrete Composites
Bagga M
(2022)
Advancements in bacteria based self-healing concrete and the promise of modelling
in Construction and Building Materials
Justo-Reinoso I
(2022)
Air-entraining admixtures as a protection method for bacterial spores in self-healing cementitious composites: Healing evaluation of early and later-age cracks
in Construction and Building Materials
Justo-Reinoso I
(2023)
Bacteria-based self-healing concrete- A life cycle assessment perspective
in Developments in the Built Environment
Justo-Reinoso I
(2021)
Aerobic non-ureolytic bacteria-based self-healing cementitious composites: A comprehensive review
in Journal of Building Engineering
Description | One of the key aims of the project was to understand how the metabolic activity of bacteria is linked to the formation of biominerals. We have now studied one bacterium in much greater detail than was done before and can now link its consumption of a particular nutrient to how much calcium carbonate it produces. Calcium carbonate, in the form of the mineral calcite, is the main component of limestone. We have also carried out a site-trial of bacteria-based self-healing concrete in a wastewater treatment facility and could show that self-healing of micro-cracks in mortar specimens was successful under these conditions. The tests further showed that the addition of nutrients and calcium sources alone facilitated self-healing of cracks without the need to add specific bacteria. This is likely due to the presence of a diverse microbial population in wastewater, which can use the nutrients and calcium to form calcium carbonate. These findings are very promising for application, because the provision of specific bacteria is currently the bottleneck in upscaling of the technology, and we suggest that in a wastewater environment, this step might not be essential. |
Exploitation Route | With our new understanding, we will now be able to optimise calcite formation to develop sustainable construction materials, with the aim of using bacterial mineral formation instead of cement. Upon publication, the new bacterium will be made available to other researchers to maximise its use and potential impact. The finding that wastewater treatment facilities may be able to apply our technology without the need of adding specific bacteria to the concrete is promising for application and impact. Discussions are ongoing with water companies. |
Sectors | Construction Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | A summary of impact activities and use of our findings will be provided by the lead institution of this grant. |
Sector | Construction,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | IAA - Towards the development of bacteria-based zero carbon concrete |
Amount | £64,132 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 10/2023 |
Description | Utilising biofilm-driven mineral precipitation for sustainable construction materials and a healthy built environment |
Amount | £49,311 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 04POC21-218 |
Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
Sector | Private |
Start | 11/2021 |
End | 07/2022 |
Title | Dataset for "Air-entraining admixtures as a protection method for bacterial spores in self-healing cementitious composites: Healing evaluation of early and later-age cracks" |
Description | This dataset contains the experimental results obtained when evaluating the feasibility of using air-entraining agents (AEAs) as an economical and straightforward encapsulation method for bacterial spores in bacteria-based self-healing cementitious materials when cracks (~ 0.50 mm) are formed at an early (28 days) or later age (9 months). The data included here corresponds to the following test methods: 1) Determination of air-content (BS EN 1015-7 (Method A- Pressure method)). 2) Flowability (BS EN 1015-3). 3) Compressive and flexural strength of mortar specimens (BS EN 1015-11). 4) Images and data used for determining the mean healing ratio of the complete cracks using image binarization. 5) Crack healing (%) as a function of the initial crack width for mortar specimens cracked after 28-days or 9-months of curing. 6) Improvement in water penetration resistance following RILEM test method 11.4. 7) Raman spectroscopy for 9-months-old mortar specimens after a healing period of 56 days. 8) Images and data used for determining the micro-bubbles total area and size distribution. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This dataset contains the experimental results obtained when evaluating the feasibility of using air-entraining agents (AEAs) as an economical and straightforward encapsulation method for bacterial spores in bacteria-based self-healing cementitious materials when cracks (~ 0.50 mm) are formed at an early (28 days) or later age (9 months). |
Description | Case study for Microbiology Society 'A Sustainable Future' project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | case study written by Susanne for the 'A sustainable future' project by the Microbiology Society, explaining how self-healing concrete can contribute to meeting some of the UN Sustainable Development targets |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://microbiologysociety.org/our-work/75th-anniversary-a-sustainable-future/circular-economy/bact... |
Description | Creating self-healing concrete using bacteria - video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | A video promoted on You tube and Vimeo that describes our research in terms that can be understood by the general public. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnrXYmOBeMk |
Description | Interview by Project Scotland magazine. Bacteria could become a concrete money saver in infrastructure upkeep |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview in Project Scotland magazine explaining how bacteria-based self-healing concrete works. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://projectscot.com/2021/03/bacteria-could-become-a-concrete-money-saver-in-infrastructure-upkee... |
Description | Interview for International Construction News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The interview led to much discussion around the form that self-healing concrete will take in the future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.international-construction.com/news/will-self-healing-concrete-ever-play-a-significant-r... |
Description | Interview for The Observer newspaper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An interview with Prof. Kevin Paine for an article in the Observer newspaper. The article discusses how self-healing concrete is a potential solution to preventing issues such as deterioration of raac in the future. The article provides links to some of Gebhard and Paine's research. Title of the work is "A Roman solution to Raac's ruin - is self-healing concrete the answer?" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/24/raac-concrete-schools-solution-self-healing-concrete... |
Description | Interview on self-healing concrete for Metrópoles |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Article on our technology reported in the mainstream Brazilian newspaper Metrópoles. Based on an interview with Mariah Aquino. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.metropoles.com/mundo/ciencia-e-tecnologia-int/pesquisadores-britanicos-desenvolvem-concr... |
Description | Interview with Marina Pastore for Massa Cinzento |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interview on how our self-healing concrete technology can be used in industrial applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.cimentoitambe.com.br/massa-cinzenta/pesquisadores-britanicos-desenvolvem-concreto-que-se... |
Description | Keynote lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote lecture on developments in self-healing concrete as part of the Neville Centre of Excellence in Cement and Concrete Engineering Symposium |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |