Soil Improvement using Microbial Induced Calcium Precipitate: A Review

Abstract

This paper represents a review on the use of Microbial Induced Calcium Precipitate (MICP) as a method of soil improvement, its metabolic processes and biomineralization. Soil improvement is targeted mainly at increasing the engineering properties of any soil. Various methods of soil improvement has evolved as a result of increasing demand of infrastructural development occasioned by rapid industrialization and population growth. Most of the known soil improvement methods rely greatly on mechanical or man-made materials which require ample amount of energy for production, installation, and are often costly, coupled with environmental as well as health issues. MICP is a bioactivity which involves the introduction of calcite forming microorganism (bacteria) and cementitious reagent into soil matrix which forms a cement compound within the soil, thus improving its engineering properties. The reviewed studies showed that MICP can significantly improve strength properties of deficient soils.