Feasibility of Using Microalgae for Biocement Production through Biocementation

Abstract

The invention of microorganism's involvement in carbonate precipitation, has lead the exploration of this process in the field of construction engineering. Biocement is a product innovation from developing bioprocess technology called biocementation. Biocement refers to a CaCO 3 deposit that formed due to microorganism activity in the system rich of calcium ion. The primary role of microorganism in carbonate precipitation is mainly due to their ability to create an alkaline environment (high pH and DIC increase) through their various physiological activities. Three main groups of microorganism that can induce the carbonate precipitation: (i) photosynthetic microorganism such as cyanobacteria and microalgae; (ii) sulphate reducing bacteria; and (iii) some species of microorganism involved in nitrogen cycle. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganism and utilize urea using urease or urea amidolyase enzyme, based on that it is possible to use microalgae as media to produce biocement through biocementation. This paper overviews biocement in general, biocementation, type of microorganism and their pathways in inducing carbonate precipitation and the prospect of microalgae to be used in biocement production.

Bio-cementation through controlled dissolution and recrystallization of calcium carbonate

“…One of the most effective methods for reducing emissions and energy use in cement production today is to replace a portion of the Portland cement with pozzolanic materials of natural (volcanic) or industrial (fly ash, blast furnace slag) origin [4]. New cement materials such as energetically modified cement [5] and bio-cement [6] have also been introduced over the last few decades, in an effort to reduce the energy consumption and environmental pollution by producing cement via alternative routes.…”

“…It eliminates the need for cultivation of, and effort to sustain, the bacteria. The use of plant-derived urease makes the system less susceptible to bio-plugging, due to its smaller size (~12 nm) [6,7]. Furthermore, plant-derived urease is readily available in the market and will degrade after use, while in situ mirobial production of urease will leave the microorganisms behind in the material.…”

Optimization of bio-cement production from cement kiln dust using microalgae

“…They investigated the effects of produced urease active cells as a catalyst to produce bio-cement. Ariyanti [14] identified three main groups of microorganisms and their pathways for induced CaCO 3 precipitation in analogy to that accustomed for photosynthetic microorganism as the likes of, cyanobacteria and microalgae; sulphate reducing bacteria; and specific classes of microorganism contributing in the nitrogen cycle. They have also discussed the feasibility study of using microalgae for bio-cement production.…”

The influence of Antarctic subglacial volcanism on the global iron cycle during the Last Glacial Maximum

“…Some pertain to endolithic communities 30 31 and include the phyla Chloroflexi (40–32%), Actinobacteria (22–25%), Cyanobacteria (18–19%) and Proteobacteria (13–17%). Others are associated to communities with known critical functions for silicate bedrock dissolution, including sulfur reducing and organic matter-oxidising bacteria, while others are known to promote calcite precipitation, including autotrophic, heterotrophic and phototrophic taxa 32 33 34 ( Fig. 3a ).…”