An assumption of in situ resource utilization for “bio-bricks” in space exploration

Abstract

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) mimics the natural cementation process that occurs in various geological settings by using the bicarbonate minerals resulting from various bacterial metabolic pathways as cementing agents. This bio-technique can be used to manufacture so-called “bio-bricks,” which rival regular bricks in strength and durability. In the last two decades, MICP has been increasingly utilized for the maintenance and repair of infrastructure. More recently, this process has also been shown to have great potential as an energy-saving and cost-effective means of in situ resource utilization (ISUR) to produce construction materials; these can be utilized for extraterrestrial human settlements for space programs such as lunar exploration. We thus review the description of natural cementation, the anaerobic and aerobic bacterial metabolic activities leading to calcium carbonate precipitation, the properties of the lunar regolith, the production of bio-bricks, and potential research needs.

Surface-displayed silicatein-α enzyme in bioengineered E. coli enables biocementation and silica mineralization

“…One alternative to man-made cement is microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), more commonly known as biocementation. Biocementation usually takes advantage of natural ureolytic and nitrification processes in microbes to precipitate large particle aggregates and can be considered biomanufacturing of cement (Zuo et al, 2023). In the most common usage of MICP, calcium carbonate is precipitated, forming bridges between smaller particles OPEN ACCESS EDITED BY and "cementing" them together.…”

“…In the most common usage of MICP, calcium carbonate is precipitated, forming bridges between smaller particles OPEN ACCESS EDITED BY and "cementing" them together. Biocementation has many applications, including use as a building block for structures, soil stabilization and erosion prevention, and dust mitigation; these functions also make it a prime candidate for future space applications on the moon or Mars (Castro-Alonso et al, 2019;Erdmann and Strieth, 2023;Zuo et al, 2023).…”