• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.391-397
• /
• 2014

Acid mine drainage occurrence is a serious environmental problem by mining industry; it usually contain high levels of metal ions, such as iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, and manganese, as well as metalloids of which arsenic is generally of greatest concern. It causes mine impacted soil pollution with mining and smelting activities, fossil fuel combustion, and waste disposal. In the present study, three bacterial strains capable of producing urease were isolated by selective enrichment of heavy metal contaminated soils from a minei-mpacted area. All isolated bacterial strains were identified Sporosarcina pasteurii with more than 98% of similarity, therefore they were named Sporosarcina sp. KM-01, KM-07, and KM-12. The heavy metals detected from the collected mine soils containing bacterial isolates as Mn ($170.50mg\;kg^{-1}$), As ($114.05mg\;kg^{-1}$), Zn ($92.07mg\;kg^{-1}$), Cu ($62.44mg\;kg^{-1}$), and Pb ($40.29mg\;kg^{-1}$). The KM-01, KM-07, and KM-12 strains were shown to be able to precipitate calcium carbonate using urea as a energy source that was amended with calcium chloride. SEM-EDS analyses showed that calcium carbonate was successfully produced and increased with time. To confirm the calcium carbonate precipitation ability, urease activity and precipitate weight were also measured and compared. These results demonstrate that all isolated bacterial strains could potentially be used in the bioremediation of acidic soil contaminated by heavy metals by mining activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.9
• /
• pp.1311-1322
• /
• 2021

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) has recently become an intelligent and environmentally friendly method for repairing cracks in concrete. To improve on this ability of microbial materials concrete repair, we applied random mutagenesis and optimization of mineralization conditions to improve the quantity and crystal form of microbially precipitated calcium carbonate. Sporosarcina pasteurii ATCC 11859 was used as the starting strain to obtain the mutant with high urease activity by atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis. Next, we investigated the optimal biomineralization conditions and precipitation crystal form using Plackett-Burman experimental design and response surface methodology (RSM). Biomineralization with 0.73 mol/l calcium chloride, 45 g/l urea, reaction temperature of 45℃, and reaction time of 22 h, significantly increased the amount of precipitated calcium carbonate, which was deposited in the form of calcite crystals. Finally, the repair of concrete using the optimized biomineralization process was evaluated. A comparison of water absorption and adhesion of concrete specimens before and after repairs showed that concrete cracks and surface defects could be efficiently repaired. This study provides a new method to engineer biocementing material for concrete repair.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.364-372
• /
• 2016

Sand tubules, made up of sand grains cemented by microbe-induced calcium carbonate precipitation, have been found in China's Ningxia Province. Sand tubules grow like a tree's roots about 40-60 cm below the surface. The properties of sand tubules and their bacterial community were examined. X-Ray diffraction analysis revealed that the sand tubules were associated with crystalline calcite. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the crystalline solid had a lamellar structure and lacked the presence of cells, suggesting that no bacteria acted as nucleation sites, nor that the crystalline solid was formed by the aggregation of bacteria. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed 11 of the 12 detectable bands were uncultured bacteria by BLAST analysis in the GenBank database, and the rest were closely related to Paenibacillus sp. (100% identity). By cultivation techniques, the only strain isolated from the sand tubule was suggested to be related to Paenibacillus sp.; no archaea were found. Furthermore, Paenibacillus sp. was demonstrated to induce calcium carbonate precipitation in vitro.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2013

Replacing OMG (old magazine) to ONP (old newspaper) by raising optical property through $CaCO_3$ in-situ precipitation method in white duplex board presents cost reduction and possible drying energy saving. The strength property impairment by the presence of $CaCO_3$ could be supplemented by the fiber furnish treatment or strength polymer addition. In $CaCO_3$ in-situ precipitation of ONP, it was found from morphological study using FlowCAM, an image analyzer, that most of calcium carbonate were formed on the fines, and made the size of the fines larger. For the case of forming calcium carbonate only on the fractionated fines, the size of the fines were the biggest, and there were more clean surface areas available for bonding for the fractionated long fibers when fractionated fibers and fines were regrouped to make paper.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.559-564
• /
• 2016

We investigated the effect of calcium carbonate on the quality of wine obtained from Gaeryangmerou (Vitis. spp.), grapes, which are commonly used in wine making in Korea. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out at $25^{\circ}C$, for 7 days in the presence of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% calcium carbonate. As calcium carbonate concentration increased, the pH of wine increased, while its total acid content and redness decreased. Calcium carbonate treatment during precipitation and aging is more effective than during fermentation. Concentrations of alcohol, total anthocyanin, polyphenol, and tannin showed no significant differences between controls and deacidified groups. Tartaric and malic acids were found to be the major acids in Gaeryangmerou wine. Calcium carbonate reduced total acidity by precipitating tartaric acid. In the sensory evaluation of the acidity, and overall acceptability, wine treated with 0.1% calcium carbonate was the best. Higher calcium carbonate concentration, was associated with greater reduction in total wine acidity. However, it is necessary to maintain the calcium carbonate concentration within 0.1% since excessive amounts of calcium carbonate can have a negative effect on wine quality.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 2023

In this study, basic research was conducted to secure microbial resources applicable to autonomous crack healing concrete. To this end, in this experiment, biomineral-forming microorganisms were separated from natural sources, and the ability of survival in cement and calcium carbonate precipitation were compared to secure suitable microbial resources. Bacillus-type bacteria forming endospores were isolated from the sample, and the amount of calcium carbonate produced by the six microorganisms identified by 16S rRNA sequencing was compared. Two types of microorganisms, Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus subtilis, with the highest calcium carbonate precipitation were selected, and the survival of the microorganisms was confirmed through phase contrast microscopy after being cured after being added to the mortar. In addition, it was confirmed that the autonomous crack healing capability by the crack healing material produced by microorganisms was confirmed by artificially generating cracks in the mortar.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 2023

Soil erosion can cause scouring and failures of underwater structures, therefore, various soil improvement techniques are used to increase the soil erosion resistance. The microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) method is proposed to increase the erosion resistance, however, there are only limited experimental and numerical studies on the use of MICP treatment for improvement of surface erosion resistance. Therefore, this study investigates the improvement in surface erosion resistance of sands by MICP through laboratory experiments and numerical modeling. The surface erosion behaviors of coarse sands with various calcium carbonate contents were first investigated via the erosion function apparatus (EFA). The test results showed that MICP treatment increased the overall erosion resistance, and the contribution of the precipitated calcium carbonate to the erosion resistance and critical shear stress was quantified in relation to the calcium carbonate contents. Further, these surface erosion processes occurring in the EFA test were simulated through the coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) with the cohesion bonding model to reflect the mineral precipitation effect. The simulation results were compared with the experimental results, and the developed CFD-DEM model with the cohesion bonding model well predicted the critical shear stress of MICP-treated sand. This work demonstrates that the MICP treatment is effective in improving soil erosion resistance, and the coupled CFD-DEM with a bonding model is a useful and promising tool to analyze the soil erosion behavior for MICP-treated sand at a particle scale.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.404-416
• /
• 2020

Bacteria that are resistant to high temperatures and alkaline environments are essential for the biological repair of damaged concrete. Alkaliphilic and halotolerant Bacillus sp. AK13 was isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Unlike other tested Bacillus species, the AK13 strain grows at pH 13 and withstands 11% (w/v) NaCl. Growth of the AK13 strain at elevated pH without urea promoted calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formation. Irregular vaterite-like CaCO₃ minerals that were tightly attached to cells were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the presence of CaCO₃ around the cell. Isotope ration mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the majority of CO₃^2- ions in the CaCO₃ were produced by cellular respiration rather than being derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide. The minerals produced from calcium acetate-added growth medium formed smaller crystals than those formed in calcium lactate-added medium. Strain AK13 appears to heal cracks on mortar specimens when applied as a pelletized spore powder. Alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. AK13 is a promising candidate for self-healing agents in concrete.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2018

Applicability of corrosion inhibitor was evaluated using pilot scale water distribution pipe simulator. Calcium hydroxide was used as corrosion inhibitor and the corrosion indices of the water were investigated. Corrosion indices, Langelier saturation index (LI) increased by 0.8 and calcium carbonate precipitation potential (CCPP) increased by 9.8 mg/L. This indicated that corrosivity of water decreased by corrosion inhibitor and the effects lasted for 18 days. Optimum calcium hydroxide dose was found to be 3~5 mg/L for corrosion inhibition. We suggest that monitoring of CCPP as well as LI need to be conducted to control corrosivity of water.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.11
• /
• pp.1568-1574
• /
• 2012

Microbiological calcium carbonate precipitation (MCCP) has been investigated for its ability to improve the durability of cement mortar. However, very few strains have been applied to crack remediation and strengthening of cementitious materials. In this study, we report the biodeposition of Bacillus subtilis 168 and its ability to enhance the durability of cement material. B. subtilis 168 was applied to the surface of cement specimens. The results showed a new layer of deposited organic-inorganic composites on the surface of the cement paste. In addition, the water permeability of the cement paste treated with B. subtilis 168 was lower than that of non-treated specimens. Furthermore, artificial cracks in the cement paste were completely remediated by the biodeposition of B. subtilis 168. The compressive strength of cement mortar treated with B. subtilis 168 increased by about 19.5% when compared with samples completed with only B4 medium. Taken together, these findings suggest that the biodeposition of B. subtilis 168 could be used as a sealing and coating agent to improve the strength and water resistance of concrete. This is the first paper to report the application of Bacillus subtilis 168 for its ability to improve the durability of cement mortar through calcium carbonate precipitation.