An autonomous system to bio-bricks production by biomineralization activity

Abstract

Urbanization causes a significant increase in the consumption of building materials, with negative environmental effects. Thus, it is a priority to develop alternative applications that promote infrastructure progress and reduction in the environmental impacts derived from civil construction activities. One example is microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), a process by which ureolytic bacteria, such as Sporosarcina pasteurii, induce calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation by urea hydrolysis. The shells are a by-product that has great potential for various uses and applications in industry. In the search for a more sustainable process, this study seeks to evaluate CaCO3 - shell powder as an aggregate to replace Portland cement with bio cement synthesized by S. pasteurii. Based on the autonomous mini-controlled irrigation system, was possible to maintain S. pasteurii activity that aggregates the particles via a biomineralization process.