Cited by 65Microbial Applications in Construction MaterialsGeotechnical Engineering and Soil StabilizationBuilding materials and conservation

Strength Enhancement and Lead Immobilization of Sand Using Consortia of Bacteria and Blue-Green Algae

Sharma, Meghna, Satyam, Neelima, Reddy, Krishna R.·2020·Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste

Abstract

Metabolites generated from microorganisms have a high potential for the strength improvement and contaminant remediation of soils. The consortium of naturally available bacteria and microalgae in soils provides a sustainable, carbon-neutral, economical, and environmentally friendly approach for both biocementation and contaminant remediation. This combined approach has not been explored earlier. The study aims to improve the strength and reduce leachable lead in cohesionless soil by providing optimal nutrients and chemicals to expedite the metabolic activity for the formation of calcite crystals in between the sand grains. Laboratory experiments were conducted using a poorly graded sand that was artificially contaminated with lead (toxic heavy metal). Algae Nostoc commune (blue-green algae) was used individually and in consortium with Bacillus (B.) sphaericus and Sporosarcina (S.) pasteurii in sand. The uncontaminated and artificially contaminated soil specimens were inoculated with different consortia combinations and treated with two different cementation media concentrations up to 16 days. After biocementation, unconfined compressive strength, direct shear, permeability, and leachability tests were conducted to analyze the engineering properties of the sand and the contaminant (lead) immobilization. The amount of calcite content was analyzed based on a calcimeter test. The leachability of lead from biocemented sand was analyzed using toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP), which showed 94%–99.2% immobilization of lead. The formation of CaCO3 and PbCO3 was identified by microcharacterization, which showed immobilization of leachable lead. The results revealed that biotreatment with the consortium of B. sphaericus and Nostoc commune increase strength, decrease permeability, and increase contaminant immobilization of sands.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1061/(asce)hz.2153-5515.0000548

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54 of 54 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Under optimized nutrient and chemical conditions, the biocementation process was enhanced.

    “Furthermore, under optimized nutrient and chemical conditions, the biocementation process was enhanced.”
  • In Sharma et al.'s study, a consortium of Bacillus sphaericus and Nostoc commune catalyzed formation of calcite crystals that bonded sand particles, significantly increasing soil strength and reducing permeability.

    “The results demonstrated that these microorganisms catalyzed the formation of calcite (CaCO 3 ) crystals, which bonded sand particles together, significantly increasing the soil strength and reducing permeability.”

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Cited by

Authors
Sharma, M., Satyam, N., & Reddy, K. R.
Affiliations
  • Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IN)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Satyam, Neelima
Venue
Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste
Published
2020-10
Volume
24
Issue
4
ISSN
  • 2153-5493 (ISSN-L)
  • 2153-5515
OpenAlex
W3041346013
Cited by
65
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 2
FWCI
2.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Applications in Construction Materials
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Building materials and conservation
Keywords
biocementation, lead immobilization, heavy metal contamination, poorly graded sand, Nostoc commune, Bacillus sphaericus, Sporosarcina pasteurii, calcite precipitation, unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, permeability reduction, soil stabilization

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