Effect of drying-wetting cycles on pore characteristics and mechanical properties of enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation-reinforced sea sand

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)is an emanating,eco-friendly and potentially sound technique that has presented promise in various geotechnical applications.However,the durability and microscopic characteristics of EICP-treated specimens against the impact of drying-wetting(D-W)cycles is under-explored yet.This study investigates the evolution of mechanical behavior and pore charac-teristics of EICP-treated sea sand subjected to D-W cycles.The uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)tests,synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography(micro-CT),and three-dimensional(3D)recon-struction of CT images were performed to study the multiscale evolution characteristics of EICP-reinforced sea sand under the effect of D-W cycles.The potential correlations between microstructure characteristics and macro-mechanical property deterioration were investigated using gray relational analysis(GRA).Results showed that the UCS of EICP-treated specimens decreases by 63.7% after 15 D-W cycles.The proportion of mesopores gradually decreases whereas the proportion of macropores in-creases due to the exfoliated calcium carbonate with increasing number of D-W cycles.The micro-structure in EICP-reinforced sea sand was gradually disintegrated,resulting in increasing pore size and development of pore shape from ellipsoidal to columnar and branched.The gray relational degree suggested that the weight loss rate and UCS deterioration were attributed to the development of branched pores with a size of 100-1000 m m under the action of D-W cycles.Overall,the results in this study provide a useful guidancee for the long-term stability and evolution characteristics of EICP-reinforced sea sand under D-W weathering conditions.

Flow-Slip Stability Behavior of Calcareous Sand Treated by Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation Technology

Flow-slip damage commonly destabilizes coastal slopes.Finding a slope stabilization method for calcareous sands in the South China Sea is crucial.Microbially induced calcite precipitation is a promising,eco-friendly method for soil stabilization.This study investigates the effect of microbial treatments,initial relative density,initial cell pressure,and initial stress ratio on the flow-slip stability of calcareous sand specimens by using constant shear drained tests.These tests lay the foundation to study the mechanical instability of sand slopes.Results show that the microbial-treated specimens maintain stable stresses longer,take longer to reach the instability,and withstand larger volumetric strains.Microbial treatment effectively enhances sand stability under constant shear drainage,with improvements amplified by higher initial relative density and initial cell pressure.In addition,a smaller initial stress ratio reduces shear effects on the specimen and increases resistance to flow slides.Microanalysis reveals that the flow-slip stability of calcareous sand slopes is enhanced by contact cementation,particle coating,void filling,and mutual embedment of calcium carbonate crystals.

Field implementation of enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation technology for reinforcing a bedding layer beneath an underground cable duct

A suitable bearing capacity of foundation is critical for the safety of civil structures.Sometimes foundation reinforcement is necessary and an effective and environmentally friendly method would be the preferred choice.In this study,the potential application of enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)was investigated for reinforcing a 0.6 m bedding layer on top of clay to improve the bearing capacity of the foundation underneath an underground cable duct.Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the optimal operational parameters for the extraction of crude urease liquid and optimal grain size range of sea sands to be used to construct the bedding layer.Field tests were planned based on orthogonal experimental design to study the factors that would significantly affect the biocementation effect on site.The dynamic deformation modulus,calcium carbonate content and longterm ground stress variations were used to evaluate the bio-cementation effect and the long-term performance of the EICP-treated bedding layer.The laboratory test results showed that the optimal duration for the extraction of crude urease liquid is 1 h and the optimal usage of soybean husk powder in urease extraction solution is 100 g/L.The calcium carbonate production rate decreases significantly when the concentration of cementation solution exceeds 0.5 mol/L.The results of site trial showed that the number of EICP treatments has the most significant impact on the effectiveness of EICP treatment and the highest dynamic deformation modulus(Evd)of EICP-treated bedding layer reached 50.55 MPa.The area with better bio-cementation effect was found to take higher ground stress which validates that the EICP treatment could improve the bearing capacity of foundation by reinforcing the bedding layer.The field trial described and the analysis introduced in this paper can provide a practical basis for applying EICP technology to the reinforcement of bedding layer in poor ground conditions.

Garlic extract addition for soil improvement at various temperatures using enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) method

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is an emerging technique to improve the soil and most studies are carried out at room temperature. However, considering some foundations are in high-temperature environments (>40 ℃), the higher urease activity at high temperature results in the solidification inhomogeneity, limiting the application of EICP. The higher urease activity at high temperature hampers the application of EICP because of solidification inhomogeneity. The garlic extract has been used as a type of urease inhibitor in medical science and food engineering. Here, we propose to use it to control urease activity for sand solidification at high temperature. The effects of garlic extract addition on urease activity and precipitation rates for calcium carbonate (CaCO_(3)) were studied. Extra tests were conducted to study the effect of garlic extract addition on the solidification homogeneity. The results showed that the garlic extract addition significantly decreased urease activity. To reduce the rate of CaCO3 precipitation at different temperatures, a suitable concentration of garlic extract was necessary to obtain a suitable urease activity. In the sand solidification test, garlic extract addition resulted in a smaller difference in sonic time values or CaCO_(3) contents at different parts of samples. The improved solidification homogeneity can achieve higher strength. The correlation between sonic time values and CaCO_(3) content was higher than that between CaCO3 content and strength. Appropriate concentrations of garlic extract were obtained at 35 ℃, 40℃, 45 ℃, 50 ℃, and 55 ℃. The proposed garlic extract addition method was significant to improve the homogeneity of solidified soil in practical engineering applications.

Separation of manganese from calcium and magnesium in sulfate solutions via carbonate precipitation

The separation of manganese from sulfate solutions containing 14.59 g/L Mn2+, 1.89 g/L Mg2+ and 1.54 g/L Ca2+ was preformed successfully by carbonate precipitation. The results of thermodynamic analysis and tests indicate that carbonate precipitation holds better selectivity for manganese over magnesium than hydroxide precipitation and the feeding method is the most critical factor for minimizing the co-precipitation of calcium and magnesium. Furthermore, with adding MnSO4 solution to NH4HCO3 solution, the effects of the initial NH4HCO3 concentration, NH4HCO3 amount, solution pH value, reaction temperature and time on carbonate precipitation were evaluated and the optimum precipitation conditions were obtained. Under the optimum conditions, the precipitation rates of Mn2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ are 99.75%, 5.62% and 1.43%, respectively. Moreover, the prepared manganese carbonate was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results demonstrate that the product can be indexed to the rhombohedral structure of MnCO3.

Biomineralization and mineralization using microfluidics:A comparison study

Biomineralization through microbial process has attracted great attention in the field of geotechnical engineering due to its ability to bind granular materials,clog pores,and seal fractures.Although minerals formed by biomineralization are generally the same as that by mineralization,their mechanical behaviors show a significant discrepancy.This study aims to figure out the differences between biomineralization and mineralization processes by visualizing and tracking the formation of minerals using microfluidics.Both biomineralization and mineralization processes occurred in the Y-shaped sandcontaining microchip that mimics the underground sand layers.Images from different areas in the reaction microchannel of microchips were captured to directly compare the distribution of minerals.Crystal size and numbers from different reaction times were measured to quantify the differences between biomineralization and mineralization processes in terms of crystal kinetics.Results showed that the crystals were precipitated in a faster and more uncontrollable manner in the mineralization process than that in the biomineralization process,given that those two processes presented similar precipitation stages.In addition,a more heterogeneous distribution of crystals was observed during the biomineralization process.The precipitation behaviors were further explained by the classical nucleation crystal growth theory.The present microfluidic tests could advance the understanding of biomineralization and provide new insight into the optimization of biocementation technology.

Efficient stabilization of dredged sludge with high water content using an improved bio-carbonation of reactive magnesia cement method

This study proposed an improved bio-carbonation of reactive magnesia cement(RMC)method for dredged sludge stabilization using the urea pre-hydrolysis strategy.Based on unconfined compression strength(UCS),pickling-drainage,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests,the effects of prehydrolysis duration(T),urease activity(UA)and curing age(CA)on the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of bio-carbonized samples were systematically investigated and analyzed.The results demonstrated that the proposed method could significantly enhance urea hydrolysis and RMC bio-carbonation to achieve efficient stabilization of dredged sludge with 80%high water content.A significant strength increment of up to about 1063.36 kPa was obtained for the bio-carbonized samples after just 7 d of curing,which was 2.64 times higher than that of the 28-day cured ordinary Portland cement-reinforced samples.Both elevated T and UA could notably increase urea utilization ratio and carbonate ion yield,but the resulting surge in supersaturation also affected the precipitation patterns of hydrated magnesia carbonates(HMCs),which weakened the cementation effect of HMCs on soil particles and further inhibited strength enhancement of bio-carbonized samples.The optimum formula was determined to be the case of T?24 h and UA?10 U/mL for dredged sludge stabilization.A 7-day CA was enough for bio-carbonized samples to obtain stable strength,albeit slightly affected by UA.The benefits of high efficiency and water stability presented the potential of this method in achieving dredged sludge stabilization and resource utilization.This investigation provides informative ideas and valuable insights on implementing advanced bio-geotechnical techniques to achieve efficient stabilization of soft soil,such as dredged sludge.

Application of Bioengineering in Construction

Bio-cement and bio-concrete are innovative solutions for sustainable construction, aiming to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the durability and versatility of building materials. Bio-cement is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cement, produced through Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP), which mimics natural biomineralization processes. This method reduces CO2 emissions and enhances the strength and durability of construction materials. Bio-concrete incorporates bio-cement into concrete, creating a self-healing material. When cracks form in bio-concrete, dormant bacteria within the material become active in the presence of water, producing limestone to fill the cracks, extending the material’s lifespan and reducing the need for repairs. The environmental impact of traditional cement production is significant, with cement generation accounting for up to 8% of global carbon emissions. Creative solutions are needed to develop more sustainable construction materials, with some efforts using modern innovations to make concrete ultra-durable and others turning to science to create affordable bio-cement. The research demonstrates the potential of bio-cement to revolutionize sustainable building practices by offering a low-energy, low-emission alternative to traditional cement while also addressing environmental concerns. The findings suggest promising applications in various construction scenarios, including earthquake-prone areas, by enhancing material durability and longevity through self-repair mechanisms.

Field trial on use of soybean crude extract for carbonate precipitation and wind erosion control of sandy soil

Wind erosion is a major cause of land desertification and sandstorm formation in arid and semi-arid areas.The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of soybeans crude extract induced calcium carbonate precipitation(SICP)on reducing wind erosion risk of sandy soil.Field tests were carried out in Ulan Buh Desert,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China.Results showed that the SICP method could significantly enhance the surface strength and wind erosion resistance of the topsoil.The optimal cementation solution(urea-CaCl2)concentration and spraying volume,according to experiments conducted on sandy land,were 0.2 mol/L and 4 L/m^2,respectively.Under this condition,the CaCO3 content was approximately 0.45%,the surface strength of sandy soil could reach 306.2 kPa,and the depth of wind erosion was approximately zero,after 30 d completion of SICP treatment.Soil surface strength declined with the increase of time,and long-term sand fixation effects of SICP treatment varied depending on topography.Whereas wind erosion in the top area of the windward slope was remarkable,sandy soils on the bottom area of the windward slope still maintained a relatively high level of surface strength and a low degree of wind erosion 12 month after SICP treatment.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)tests with energy dispersive X-ray(EDX)confirmed the precipitation of CaCO3 and its bridge effect.These findings suggested that the SICP method is a promising candidate to protect sandy soil from wind erosion in desert areas.

Application of microbially induced carbonate precipitation to form biocemented artificial sandstone

It is difficult to collect and characterise well-preserved samples of weakly-cemented granular rocks as conventional sampling techniques often result in destruction of the cementation.An alternative approach is to prepare synthetic geomaterials to match required specifications.This paper introduces microbially induced carbonate precipitation(MICP)as a method to reliably deliver artificiallycemented specimens with customised properties,closely resembling those of soft carbonate sandstones.The specimens are generated from materials with two highly different particle size distributions(PSDs)to access a range of achievable combinations of strengths and porosities.The MICP parameters are kept constant across all samples to obtain similar calcium carbonate characteristics(size of individual crystals,type,etc.),while injected volume is varied to achieve different cementation levels.Although uniform cementation of very coarse sands has been considered very difficult to achieve,the results show that both the fine and coarse sand specimens present high degrees of uniformity and a good degree of repeatability.The unconfined compressive strengths(UCSs)(less than 3000 kPa)and porosities(0.25e0.4)of the artificial specimens fall in the same range of values reported for natural rocks.The strength gainwas greater in the fine sand than that in the coarse sand,as the void size in the latter was significantly larger compared to the calcium carbonate crystals’size,resulting in precipitation on less effective locations,away from contacts between particles.The strengths and porosities obtained for the two sands in this work fall within ranges reported in the literature for natural soft rocks,demonstrating theMICP technique is able to achieve realistic properties and may be used to produce a full range of properties by varying the grain sizes,and possibly the width of PSD.

Experimental study on mitigating wind erosion of calcareous desert sand using spray method for microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation

Wind erosion is one of the significant natural calamities worldwide, which degrades around one-third of global land. The eroded and suspended soil particles in the environment may cause health hazards, i.e.allergies and respiratory diseases, due to the presence of harmful contaminants, bacteria, and pollens.The present study evaluates the feasibility of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation(MICP)technique to mitigate wind-induced erosion of calcareous desert sand(Thar desert of Rajasthan province in India). The temperature during biotreatment was kept at 36℃ to stimulate the average temperature of the Thar desert. The spray method was used for bioaugmentation of Sporosarcina(S.) pasteurii and further treatment using chemical solutions. The chemical solution of 0.25 pore volume was sprayed continuously up to 5 d, 10 d, 15 d, and 20 d, using two different concentration ratios of urea and calcium chloride dihydrate viz 2:1 and 1:1. The biotreated samples were subjected to erosion testing(in the wind tunnel) at different wind speeds of 10 m/s, 20 m/s, and 30 m/s. The unconfined compressive strength of the biocemented crust was measured using a pocket penetrometer. The variation in calcite precipitation and microstructure(including the presence of crystalline minerals) of untreated as well as biotreated sand samples were determined through calcimeter, scanning electron microscope(SEM), and energydispersive X-ray spectroscope(EDX). The results demonstrated that the erosion of untreated sand increases with an increase in wind speeds. When compared to untreated sand, a lower erosion was observed in all biocemented sand samples, irrespective of treatment condition and wind speed. It was observed that the sample treated with 1:1 cementation solution for up to 5 d, was found to effectively resist erosion at a wind speed of 10 m/s. Moreover, a significant erosion resistance was ascertained in15 d and 20 d treated samples at higher wind speeds. The calcite content percentage, thickness of crust,bulk density, and surface strength of biocemented sand were enhanced with the increase in treatment duration. The 1:1 concentration ratio of cementation solution was found effective in improving crust thickness and surface strength as compared to 2:1 concentration ratio of cementation solution. The calcite crystals formation was observed in SEM analysis and calcium peaks were observed in EDX analysis for biotreated sand.

Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation for the Protection of Earthen Dikes and Embankments Under Surface Runoff: Laboratory Investigations

Earthen structures such as shore protection dikes and river embankments easily suffer from erosion under surface water runoff.This study made experimental efforts to explore the enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)method for slope erosion control under surface runoff for earthen structures.The sandy soils were treated by the EICP method for various rounds.Surface characteristics were evaluated by the surface penetration resistance,calcium carbonate content,and surface hard crust thickness of EICP-treated soils.Slope runoff erosion experiments were carried out to evaluate the erosion control performances of the EICP treatment.The surface penetration resistance,calcium carbonate content,and surface hard crust thickness were found to significantly increase with the treatment rounds.In the erosion experiments,it was observed that the level of damages decreased and the water flow volume required to trigger the damage increased with more treatments.The increase in the soil slope angle led to more serious surface damages.The amount and rate that the soil particles were eroded from the slope surfaces declined with more EICP treatments,which was consistent with those of visual observations.The preliminary investigations presented in this study have shown the potential of the EICP method for slope erosion control under surface runoff for earthen structures.

Water-use efficiency in response to simulated increasing precipitation in a temperate desert ecosystem of Xinjiang, China

Water-use efficiency（WUE） is a key plant functional trait that plays a central role in the global cycles of water and carbon. Although increasing precipitation may cause vegetation changes, few studies have explored the linkage between alteration in vegetation and WUE. Here, we analyzed the responses of leaf WUE, ecosystem carbon and water exchanges, ecosystem WUE, and plant community composition changes under normal conditions and also under extra 15% or 30% increases in annual precipitation in a temperate desert ecosystem of Xinjiang, China. We found that leaf WUE and ecosystem WUE showed inconsistent responses to increasing precipitation. Leaf WUE consistently decreased as precipitation increased. By contrast, the responses of the ecosystem WUE to increasing precipitation are different in different precipitation regimes： increasing by 33.9% in the wet year（i.e., the normal precipitation years）and decreasing by 4.1% in the dry year when the precipitation was about 30% less than that in the wet year.We systematically assessed the herbaceous community dynamics, community composition, and vegetation coverage to explain the responses of ecosystem WUE, and found that the between-year discrepancy in ecosystem WUE was consistent with the extent to which plant biomass was stimulated by the increase in precipitation. Although there was no change in the relative significance of ephemerals in the plant community, its greater overall plant biomass drove an increased ecosystem WUE under the conditions of increasing precipitation in 2011. However, the slight increase in plant biomass exerted no significant effect on ecosystem WUE in 2012. Our findings suggest that an alteration in the dominant species in this plant community can induce a shift in the carbon-and water-based economics of desert ecosystems.

Polymorph and morphology of CaCO_3 in relation to precipitation conditions in a bubbling system

Simulating the typical carbonation step in a mineral CO_2 sequestration, precipitated calcium carbonate(PCC) was prepared by bubbling CO_2 gas into a rich Ca solution. These carbonation reactions were conducted at three p H ranges, namely 10.0–9.0, 9.0–8.0, and 8.0–7.0, in which temperature and CO_2 flow rate are additional experimental variables. The PCC obtained in experiments was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)and X-ray diffraction(XRD). It was found that supersaturation determined by p H value and flow rate of CO_2 has significant influence on polymorph of PCC. Vaterite was preferably formed at high supersaturation, while dissolution of metastable vaterite and crystallization of calcite occurred at low supersaturation. High temperature is a critical factor for the formation of aragonite. At 70 °C, vaterite, calcite and aragonite were observed to coexist in PCC because transformation from vaterite to aragonite via calcite occurred at this temperature. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) technology was performed on prepared PCC, and various morphologies consistent with polymorphs were observed.

Unconfined compressive strength of MICP and EICP treated sands subjected to cycles of wetting-drying,freezing-thawing and elevated temperature:Experimental and EPR modelling

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation(MICP)and enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)are two bio-cementation techniques,which are relatively new methods of ground improvement.While both techniques share some similarities,they can exhibit different overall behaviours due to the differences in urease enzyme sources and treatment methods.This paper presented 40 unconfined compressive strength(UCS)tests of MICP and EICP treated sand specimens with similar average calcium carbonate(CaCO3)content subjected to cycles of wetting-drying(WD),freezing-thawing(FT)and elevated temperature(fire resistance test e FR and thermogravimetric analysis e TG).The average CaCO3 content after a certain number of WD or FT cycles(ACn)and their corresponding UCS(qn)reduced while the mass loss increased.The EICP treated sand specimens appeared to exhibit a lower resistance to WD and FT cycles than MICP treated specimens possibly due to the presence of unbonded or loosely bonded CaCO3 within the soil matrix,which was subsequently removed during the wetting(during WD)or thawing(during FT)process.FR test and TG analysis showed a significant loss of mass and reduction in CaCO3 content with increased temperatures,possibly due to the thermal decomposition of CaCO3.A complete deterioration of the MICP and EICP treated sand specimens was observed for temperatures above 600C.The observed behaviours are complex and theoretical understanding is far behind to develop a constitutive model to predict qn.Therefore,a multi-objective evolutionary genetic algorithm(GA)that deals with pseudo-polynomial structures,known as evolutionary polynomial regression(EPR),was used to seek three choices from millions of polynomial models.The best EPR model produced an excellent prediction of qn with a minimum sum of squares error(SSE)of 2.392,mean squared error(MSE)of 0.075,root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.273 and a maximum coefficient of determination of 0.939.

Scaling and clogging treatment of aging tunnel drainage pipes in karst areas using eco-friendly acid agent

In karst areas,the drainage pipes of aging tunnels are prone to be clogged by precipitated carbonates,resulting in lining cracking and tunnel leaking.As a result,not only the driving safety will be deteriorated,but also the water pressure on the lining might also be elevated significantly.For the structural stability and service lifespan of old tunnels,it is of great importance to remove these precipitated carbonates in time.Traditional treatment methods are often destructive to some extent or not efficient enough.This study aims to experimentally develop an eco-friendly acid-based chemical cleaning method to remove carbonate precipitations efficiently.The proposed chemical cleaning agent is an aqueous solution with strong acidity,consisting of sulfamic acid,water,and additives.The factors affecting the cleaning efficiency include the acid solubility,temperature and flow rate of the cleaning agent,as well as additives.Elevating the solution temperature to 50
C or a flow rate of no less than 0.2 m/s can improve cleaning efficiency.Although the salt effect cannot work,1 wt%of polymaleic acid as a surfactant could further promote the cleaning rate.The cleaning efficiency will increase with the flow rate in a power function.The relatively low flow rate that improves the cleaning rate considerably can avoid highpressure-induced mechanical damage to tunnel drainpipes.The waste could be easily treated to acceptable levels using commercial sewage treatment products and can also be recycled in agriculture.With the chemical cleaning,the water pressure at the arch springing of the lining will reduce with the increased radius of transverse drainpipes in a power function.The proposed acid-based cleaning method,which is highly efficient,non-or low-destructive to aging tunnels,sufficiently safe for humans,and friendly enough to the environment,will offer a promising alternative to remove the precipitated carbonates in tunnel drainpipes efficiently.

Separation and enrichment of elemental sulfur and mercury from hydrometallurgical zinc residue using sodium sulfide

The separation and enrichment of mercury and the recovery of elemental sulfur from flotation sulfur concentrate in zinc pressure leaching process were carried out by sodium sulfide leaching and carbon dioxide precipitating. The results show that the leaching rate of elemental sulfur is more than 98%, and 98.13% of mercury is enriched in the residue, under the optimized conditions of sodium sulfide concentration 1.5 mol/L, liquid/solid ratio 6：1 and leaching time 30 min at room temperature. In addition, the content of mercury is enriched 5.23 times that in the leaching residue. The elemental sulfur is precipitated from leaching solution under conditions of carbon dioxide flow rate 200 mL/min and blowing time 150 min, while solution is stirred adequately. The recovery efficiency of elemental sulfur reaches 97.67%, and the purity of elemental sulfur is 99.75%, meeting the requirements of industrial first-rate product standard according to the national standard of GB/T 2449-2006 （PRC）.

Experimental study on the mechanical properties and consolidation mechanism of microbial grouted backfill

Backfill mining technology is the practice of returning waste materials underground for both disposal and geotechnical stability,however,a challenge with current technologies is that they commonly require cement-based binders which have a relatively high environmental impact.Finding alternatives to cement-based binders can improve environmental performance and this paper proposes microbial grouted backfill(MGB)as a potential solution.In this paper,the effects of the cementation solution concentration(CSC),volume ratio of bacterial solution to cementation solution(VRBC),particle sizes of the aggregates,and the number of grouting batches on the mechanical properties of MGB are studied.The experimental results show that MGB strength increased,up to a peak value,as CSC was increased,before decreasing as CSC was increased further.The results also show that MGB strength increased,up to a peak value,as VRBC decreased,before decreasing as the VRBC was decreased further.The peak strength was achieved at a CSC of 2 mol/L and a VRBC of 1:9.The strength of the MGB also increased as the number of grouting batches increased.Graded MGB samples showed the highest UCS,25.12 MPa,at particle sizes of 0.2 to 0.8 mm,while full(non-graded)MGB samples displayed mean UCS values ranging from1.56 MPa when the maximum particle size was 0.2 mm,up to 13 MPa when the maximum particle size was 1.2 mm.MGB samples are consolidated by the calcium carbonate that is precipitated during microbial metabolism,and the strength of MGB increases linearly as calcium carbonate content increases.The calcium carbonate minerals produced in MGB materials are primarily calcite,with secondary amounts of vaterite.

Non-linear Viscoelastic Rheological Properties of PCC/PEG Suspensions

The shear thinning and shear thickening rheological properties of PCC/PEG suspension were investigated with the increase of oscillatory amplitude stress at different constant frequencies. The results show that the complex viscosity was initially independent of stress amplitude and obvious shear thinning occurred, then dramatic shear thickening took place after reaching the minimum viscosity. Typically, in a constant frequency of 5 rad/s, the elastic modulus, viscous modulus, and tanδ （δ is the out-of-phase angle） vs. the stress amplitude was investigated. It is found that the elastic modulus initially appeared to be independent of stress amplitude and then exhibited a rapid decrease, but the viscous modulus was independent of amplitude stress at lower amplitude stress. After reaching the minimum value the viscous modulus showed a rapid increase. On the other hand, tanδ increased from 0.6 to 92, which indicates that the transition from elastic to viscous had taken place and tanδ showed a steep increase when shear thickening occurred. Lissajous plots are shown for the dissipated energy vs. different maximum stress amplitude in the shear thinning and shear thickening regions. The relationship of dissipated energy vs. maximum stress amplitude was determined, which follows a power law. In the shear thinning region the exponent was 1.91, but it steeply increases to 3.97 in the shear thickening region.

Shear-thickening rheological response of PCC/PEG suspensions

The steady and dynamic rheological behaviors of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) suspension in polyethylene glycol (PEG) were investigated on a TA AR2000ex rheometer. Under steady shear consistency index K and flow exponent N of suspensions with different volume fractions were determined. The shear-thinning and the discontinuous shear-thickening behavior were observed at different constant frequencies from 10 to 100 rad/s. The relationship between the complex viscosity and the constant frequency were determined. As the volume fraction increases,flow exponent N shows a rapid increase,and it increases dramatically when the discontinuous shear-thickening takes place,while consistency index K decreases. Dynamic oscillatory shear experiments were conducted at constant strain amplitude and constant frequency,respectively. For the frequency sweep,the system shows viscous property in entire range of the frequency investigated,and the complex viscosity shows discontinuous jump at a critical frequency of 10 rad/s. For the strain sweep,on the other hand,at low strain the elastic modulus is strongly dependent on the strain,and the viscous modulus is independent of the strain. But at the critical strain point both of the moduli show an abrupt jump and the system transits from elastic to viscous at a strain of 0.1.