Soil treatment using microbial biopolymers for anti-desertification purposes

Chang, Ilhan; Prasidhi, Awlia Kharis; Im, Jooyoung; Shin, Hyun‐Dong; Cho, Gye-Chun

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.04.006

Cited by 181 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Recent studies on microbial biopolymers externally produced in culture tanks, such as polysaccharides, have demonstrated remarkable strengthening efficiency in such applications. These results suggest the potential utility of these biopolymers as a new construction material for environmentally friendly geotechnical engineering [5,13,14,18,19]. Among biopolymers suitable for soil treatment, gel-type biopolymers, such as gellan gum, agar gum, and xanthan gum, have several advantages, including quick (rapid) setting (gelation) [17], the ability to reduce hydraulic conductivity via bio-clogging [21], improving the shear resistance of soils [38,52] and a unique gel-structure formation process that reveals high gel strength even under fully saturated conditions [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Shear strength behavior and parameters of microbial gellan gum-treated soils: from sand to clay

2018

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Microbial biopolymers have recently been introduced as a new material for soil treatment and improvement. Biopolymers provide significant strengthening to soil, even in small quantities (i.e., at 1/10th or less of the required amount of conventional binders, such as cement). In particular, thermo-gelating biopolymers, including agar gum, gellan gum, and xanthan gum, are known to strengthen soils noticeably, even under water-saturated conditions. However, an explicitly detailed examination of the microscopic interactions and strengthening characteristics between gellan gum and soil particles has not yet been performed. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of soil-gellan gum interactions on the strengthening behavior of gellan gum-treated soil mixtures (from sand to clay). The experimental results showed that the strengths of sand-clay mixtures were effectively increased by gellan gum treatment over those of pure sand or clay. The strengthening behavior is attributed to the conglomeration of fine particles as well as to the interconnection of fine and coarse particles, by gellan gum. Gellan gum treatment significantly improved not only interparticle cohesion but also the friction angle of clay-containing soils.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Shear strength behavior and parameters of microbial gellan gum-treated soils: from sand to clay

2018

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“…From a geotechnical perspective, the presence of beta-glucan in soil increases the Atterberg limit values as well as shear stiffness (G), while it seems to have minor or even no effects on the constrained modulus (M) of soil [99]. A recent study showed that beta-glucan treatment promotes vegetation growth in treated soils as well as high strength, and in particular it promoted vegetation growth on barren soil, indicating its potential for use as a countermeasure for desertification [100].…”

Section: Beta-glucanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, to employ biopolymers, specific in-situ characterization must be conducted in advance, to understand the particular composition of the targeted soil, such as its coarseness and clay ratio, which is important for determining the proper quantities of biopolymers and the best utilization methods for geotechnical engineering purposes. For instance, biopolymers have the potential to reduce aeolian erosion and promote vegetation growth in arid or semi-arid deserts [100]. Since desert soil mostly consists of coarse grains, biopolymers are expected to show suitable workability in terms of material rheology and soil structure.…”

Section: How Biopolymers Strengthen Soilmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction of Microbial Biopolymers in Soil Treatment for Future Environmentally-Friendly and Sustainable Geotechnical Engineering

2016

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Soil treatment and improvement is commonly performed in the field of geotechnical engineering. Methods and materials to achieve this such as soil stabilization and mixing with cementitious binders have been utilized in engineered soil applications since the beginning of human civilization. Demand for environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives is currently rising. Since cement, the most commonly applied and effective soil treatment material, is responsible for heavy greenhouse gas emissions, alternatives such as geosynthetics, chemical polymers, geopolymers, microbial induction, and biopolymers are being actively studied. This study provides an overall review of the recent applications of biopolymers in geotechnical engineering. Biopolymers are microbially induced polymers that are high-tensile, innocuous, and eco-friendly. Soil-biopolymer interactions and related soil strengthening mechanisms are discussed in the context of recent experimental and microscopic studies. In addition, the economic feasibility of biopolymer implementation in the field is analyzed in comparison to ordinary cement, from environmental perspectives. Findings from this study demonstrate that biopolymers have strong potential to replace cement as a soil treatment material within the context of environment-friendly construction and development. Moreover, continuing research is suggested to ensure performance in terms of practical implementation, reliability, and durability of in situ biopolymer applications for geotechnical engineering purposes.

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“…Even when occurring naturally, erosion is caused by the anthropogenic actions of land use and occupation, this combination being the principal trigger for desertification around the globe [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining the Soil Erodibility for an Experimental Basin in the Semi-Arid Region Using Geoprocessing

Pereira¹,

Lopes²,

Gomes³

et al. 2017

AJPS

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Soil treatment using microbial biopolymers for anti-desertification purposes

Cited by 181 publications

References 36 publications

Shear strength behavior and parameters of microbial gellan gum-treated soils: from sand to clay

Shear strength behavior and parameters of microbial gellan gum-treated soils: from sand to clay

Introduction of Microbial Biopolymers in Soil Treatment for Future Environmentally-Friendly and Sustainable Geotechnical Engineering

Determining the Soil Erodibility for an Experimental Basin in the Semi-Arid Region Using Geoprocessing

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