This paper describes a new method called electro-biogrouting for the improvement of soft soil with low hydraulic conductivity. In this method, bacteria, urea and calcium ion are injected by an applied electric field. Initially, the calcium ions are moved across the specimen by electromigration from the anode to the cathode. Then, the urea, which is non-ionic and solvable, is transported by electro-osmotic flow from the anode to the cathode. Finally, the bacteria with negative surface charge are induced as particles by electrophoresis mobility from the anode to the cathode. Polarity reversal is applied to ensure homogeneous distribution of agents. As the bacteria expose the urea, the urease enzyme is released, and carbonate ions are produced, which results in CaCO3 precipitation in the porous media of the soil. This increases the shear strength of the soil up to 1080%. The CaCO3 was detected using the acid washing technique.
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9 October 2015
Research Article|
March 01 2014
Electro-biogrouting stabilisation of soft soil Available to Purchase
Hamed A. Keykha, MSc;
Hamed A. Keykha, MSc
PhD Student
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Bujang B. K. Huat, DIC, PhD;
Bujang B. K. Huat, DIC, PhD
Engr., Professor
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Afshin Asadi, MSc, PhD
Afshin Asadi, MSc, PhD
Research Fellow
Housing Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Received:
July 11 2013
Accepted:
November 29 2013
ICE Publishing: All rights reserved
2015
Environmental Geotechnics (2015) 2 (5): 292–300.
Article history
Received:
July 11 2013
Accepted:
November 29 2013
Citation
Keykha HA, Huat BBK, Asadi A (2015), "Electro-biogrouting stabilisation of soft soil". Environmental Geotechnics, Vol. 2 No. 5 pp. 292–300, doi: https://doi.org/10.1680/envgeo.13.00068
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