Reducing the hydraulic erosion of sand using microbial-induced carbonate precipitation

Hydraulic erosion is one of the main causes of failure within earth dams and embankments. Various methods are used to mitigate against such erosion, a common approach being grouting with cement, clay or chemical materials. Biogrouting using the microbial-induced carbonate precipitation technique is a relatively new, cost-effective, technically appropriate and environmentally friendly soil improvement method. Bacteria injected into the soil produce urease enzyme, which converts urea to ammonium and carbonate, causing calcite precipitation that binds soil grains together. In this study, the erodibility parameters of dense silica sand specimens treated with different injection strategies were investigated at bench scale. More effective treatment – in terms of greater and more uniform calcite precipitation over the test-specimen length, and hence greater erosion resistance – was achieved by aeration during solution injections and by incorporating a drained stage between injection cycles. With the latter, calcite precipitated as larger crystals, accumulating extensively over grain surfaces and also formed integrated in the pore voids. The best-performing treatment strategy produced a 95% reduction in erodibility and a five-fold increase in critical shear stress relative to untreated sand. These findings were confirmed by scanning electronic microscopy and calcium carbonate titration tests.